The German World Cup swimmer Josha Salchow sees the participation of Russian athletes very critical of the title fights in Singapore.
“The Russian attack war on Ukraine exists and is not over yet,” said Salchow “Sport1”. “We see current developments that Donald Trump and NATO are threatening to sanctions against Russia again. On the other hand, the world sport should open doors again and let us move together. This simply bites a bit.”
Salchow: “There is a fader aftertaste”
At the World Championships, where the pelvic competitions begin on Sunday, numerous Russian athletes can start under a neutral flag. “If we continue to spin the wheel and see that Russian athletes are there at the winter games in 2026 – then biathletes run over the slopes with a rifle and not far from that, the Russians and Ukrainians are opposite in the trench,” said Salchow.
It is still unclear whether and if so in which disciplines may be included in the winter games as so -called neutral athletes. There is great support for Ukraine in biathlon. Russia remains excluded in the toboggan competitions, as well as in ice hockey. Teams from Russia were not approved last year at the summer games in Paris.
Salchow does not like a solution with a neutral flag
Salchow, who had become sixth over 100 meters freestyle, added: “The same thing can happen in other games: 2028 could compete against Russian sports shooters in 2028. I find this comparison difficult, there is a fader aftertaste.”
Salchow is also irritating to the solution to start Russian athletes under a neutral flag. “We all know that the athletes come from Russia, and then we lies ourselves by taking the neutral flag. This is difficult. Either completely or not at all.”
Because of the scandal for state -organized doping at the winter games 2014 in Sochi and later the war of aggression against Ukraine, Russian athletes have not been allowed to start under their own flag at the Olympics since 2016.