Ukrainian swimmer Viktoriya Zeynep Günes caused trouble with an Instagram post and drew the ire of her Russian opponents. The world association FINA was also forced to react.
Because she posted a picture of herself on her Instagram channel in which she demonstratively stepped on a Russian flag, Viktoriya Zeynep Günes, who was born in Ukraine and is now starting for Turkey, was reprimanded by the World Swimming Association FINA.
An official letter from the association, drafted after complaints from Russia and quoted by the TASS news agency, says: “FINA is aware of the Instagram post by Viktoriya Günes, a native of Ukraine, who competed for Ukraine in the past . FINA encourages all water sports enthusiasts to behave with dignity and respect.”
The portal “swimswam” had previously reported on the post and also the following reactions from Russia.
Among the Russian athletes who reacted to the picture was Vladislav Grinev. Commenting on the post, the swimmer said: “Where are the limits of what athletes are allowed to do? If you decide that it is humane to exclude Russian athletes from all international competitions, then act here too. Nationalism in any form is unacceptable.”
Grinev’s message was also shared by other Russian swimmers, Sports Minister Dmitry Shvishev called Günes’ post disgusting and called for consequences from the association. “I would like to believe that FINA and other relevant organizations will punish the swimmer for her behavior,” said Shvishev, who said such “provocations” should be sanctioned, “regardless of the country they are aimed at”.
Viktoriya Günes herself has not yet commented on the echo her picture evoked. The 23-year-old has been competing for the Turkish Swimming Federation since 2014 after having to leave her native Yalta following Russia’s annexation of Crimea.