Annika Malacinski told how it feels when a big dream is taken away.
Annika Malacinski is doing everything she can to ensure that the women’s team is included in the 2030 Olympics. PDO
– My dream has been taken from me. Not because of my skills, but because of my gender.
Thus the combined athlete Annika Malacinski states on Instagram. With his statement, he refers to the fact that the women’s team is still not seen at the Olympics.
– It feels like someone spitting in your face. Like someone putting you down and saying you’re not good enough to be here with the greats, Malacinski says now In an interview with Dagbladet.
Combined is the only sport in next winter’s Olympics in which only men compete.
– This is really painful. That’s why I’m dedicating this year to fighting for our cause and doing everything I can to make change happen. I don’t care if I piss anyone off. If the IOC sees me as a threat, I don’t care. I want them to take us seriously.
According to Malacinski, he has tried to contact the International Olympic Committee (IOC) several times regarding the issue, but there has been no answer and no explanation.
Malacinski still dreams that women would be able to compete in the combined 2030 Olympics. If that doesn’t happen, he fears that the entire sport will disappear from the Olympics.
– If women are not involved in 2030, then neither are men. The Olympics can no longer be organized without equality, Malacinski thinks.
In 2022, she was absolutely certain that women would already be participating in next winter’s Games. However, that did not happen.
– My whole world collapsed when they made that decision. I had worked so hard for it. It’s hard to have that fight alongside that professional sport.
When Dagbladet asked the International Olympic Committee why the women’s combined team is not participating in next winter’s games, the reason was, among other things, the number of spectators and the small number of competitors. The 2030 Games will be decided next year.
Malacinski’s mother is Finnish Essi Kenttäläbut the top athlete represents his father in the World Cup Steve Malacinski homeland United States.
Also Malacinski’s brother Niklas21, competes in combined. He also represents the USA instead of Finland. The siblings still speak fluent Finnish.
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