Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak wore a “Z,” known to be a Russian war symbol, on his uniform while sharing the podium with Ukrainian rival Illia Kovtun at the World Cup event in Doha, Qatar.
The photo of Kovtun standing atop the podium, having won gold in parallel bars, while Kuliak stood in third place created an outrage on social media.
Gymnovosti called Kuliak’s choice to wear the war symbol “horrifying.”
If you’re wondering whether Ukrainians were offended, they were https://t.co/OUhMTmmIqb pic.twitter.com/UYUBvhEelL
— Gymnovosti (@gymnovosti) March 5, 2022
The International Gymnastics Federation announced that Russian and Belarusian gymnasts would only be allowed to compete as neutral athletes and could not “use the national flags or anthems at FIG competitions.”
Daria Kaleniuk, the executive director of the Anti-Corruption Action Center in Ukraine, compared the “Z” to a Nazi swastika.
“21 century fascism invents its own symbols,” Kaleniuk tweeted. “Stop.”
21 century fascism invents its own symbols. Stop #TerroRussia #ProtectUASky pic.twitter.com/Pp29ikEBt4
— Daria Kaleniuk (@dkaleniuk) March 5, 2022
RUSSIAN FIGURE SKATERS BANNED FROM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Other Twitter users called for Russian gymnasts to be banned from competition altogether.
Despite the FIG not totally barring Russian and Belarusian athletes, the gymnasts will likely have a more difficult time traveling to future competitions in countries where visas are required for entrance, as those countries are not issuing visas amid the war, according to Gymnovosti.
Financial sanctions will also affect the athletes, as paying for various competition fees has become difficult. Additionally, the gymnasts will have a difficult time traveling because Russian airlines have suspended most international flights.
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The International Skating Union announced Thursday that no athletes from Russia or Belarus “shall be invited or allowed to participate” in any skating events until further notice.
Russia has also been banned from FIFA and UEFA. The country’s athletes were barred from competing in International Volleyball Federation events.
