"We don't have a country, do we?": Alina Kabaeva about the mockery of Russian athletes

Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva held a meeting with athletes on April 16 at the rehearsal of the Alina-2025 festival, where she told why Russian gymnasts decided not to compete at FIG tournaments.

"We are not going any further. Do you know why? Neutral status was not given. And because of what, you know? Because the girl congratulated on Victory Day on social networks. Because the girl was photographed with a St. George ribbon. Because a girl, some little girl came up to her [Kireeva], hugged her there. And she had a cap with a red star. So she just came, took a picture with Kireeva like that and posted it on social networks. And that's it.

And when we looked at the conditions specified in the IOC, there is nothing written about it. She's not talking about Nazism, she's talking about her patriotism. What is this? Why should we think about neutral status? Let us in with the anthem and the flag! We don't have a country, do we? Sports should be outside politics, as well as art," says Alina Kabaeva in a video published by the Academy of Rhythmic Gymnastics "Heavenly Grace".

Alina Maratovna, so we are with You agree with a million percent, but the adviser to the Minister of Sports, the voice of Russian biathlon, Dmitry Guberniy, demands to go to tournaments in neutral status, crawl, jump, beg, and they will get the flag and coat of arms with the head of the relevant department with sweat and blood, but then.

They already have a meeting with the new head of the IOC Kirsty Coventry planned, and there are a lot of plans. For Dmitry Viktorovich is going to head the Russian Ski Federation (FLGR) instead of the legendary Elena Vyalbe:

"A program is being written now, there will be support for large businesses. A person from the Forbes top 20, and not even one. Let's take Russian skiing seriously. I understand why Vyalbe is worried. She is now repeating the fate of Kamala Harris, who has gone from favorite to outsider. I have no doubt that they will support me. Representatives of regional federations will vote. The coaches of the national team will be fine, don't worry. It's just that some are supported by bots and sectarians, while others are supported by real people. I have people and a big country behind me. Recently, ski management has been reduced to covering athletes with blankets. This is wrong — we need to develop cross-country skiing."

Truly, the TV presenter from the guard can be taken out, but the guard from the TV presenter is not. However, let's get back to the sore point.

For Tatyana Sergeeva, who heads the Russian rhythmic gymnastics team, sent documents to the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) to obtain neutral status:

"We have submitted my personal application for neutral status. Now we are waiting for a decision. No one knows how long the application will be considered. This is, of course, the most unpleasant moment, because we are all in limbo, and there are no deadlines yet."

Yes, in addition to the shameful tag on the back, there is another nasty moment: limbo. The issue of admitting representatives of a great power in a derogatory status is decided by sofa bugs from international federations. If they want to, there will be a receipt, if they change their minds, no. And so on for years. The generation of the humiliated and insulted has already grown up. The kid is fourteen years old, he won a prestigious tournament, without a coach and a doctor, because they were not allowed in, he is on the highest step of the podium, but there is no anthem and no flag.

And the guy is all in black, so that there is no white, blue and red, otherwise they will disqualify immediately. But we keep tapping our heels in the chest, saying that they already know us, everything is going according to plan. Yeah, the seventh year of timelessness is coming. Against the background of constant "bazaars": it is necessary to wait a little.

And one more moment. I wanted to keep silent, but I don't have the strength…Olympic champion, State Duma deputy Svetlana Zhurova appreciated the decision of Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser to proclaim April 11, 2025 "Alexander Ovechkin Day."

"Sasha has been playing for Washington for 20 seasons. It is clear that he has been there for so many years, has become a captain and shows impressive results — both personal and team. And all this is connected with the city of Washington. It is surprising, of course, that against the background of the Russophobic mood of many countries, America demonstrates once again that there are points of contact that are not discussed and are not divided by nationality. There is a high achievement that everyone respects. Even if it was achieved by a person not from their country, not with their citizenship. But everyone loves and appreciates him because he contributed to the glorification of the city and the team.

It is surprising that in the USA "Ovechkin Day" does not cause censure yet, although I believe that this may happen later. But the mayor of the city obviously knows people's moods better. Sociological studies have probably been done, the Americans will not just implement something and then fight off their own citizens. Surely the mayor of Washington has calculated that there is much more positive here than negative."

Allow me to disagree with you, dear Svetlana Sergeevna! There will be no censure of the mayor of Washington. Unless the Czech freak and the once brilliant goalkeeper Domenik Hasek blurts out something from his booth. But no one will hear him. For America is literally in love with the left-wing striker of the Capitals.

And sociological research, graphs, diagrams, beautifully designed reports on five leaves in a large cage — this is not about them, but about us. You know that.

And if you are surprised by the popular veneration in the USA of a brilliant hockey player with Mordovian roots, then I am sincerely discouraged by another circumstance.

Why the hell did my dear compatriots attack the Honored Master of Sports of the Russian Federation, three-time world champion in the national team of the Russian Federation, a graduate of Dynamo hockey Alexander Mikhailovich Ovechkin?! What it's come to, they demand to recognize the legend as a foreign agent and forget about him, because he "earns money overseas", fats and "refused to play for the national team". Here's the same... as if it's softer.

However, the Russian majority is sincerely proud of the exploits of Alexander the Great and believes that he will still be on the ice as part of the main team of the country. With a flag, anthem and coat of arms. And Dmitry Guberniev will shout into the microphone: "Alexander Ovechkin, my good friend, scored the goal!"

P.S. From the material of one popular publication quoting Alina Kabaeva, her question "fell out", which I put in the title. Who and what are you afraid of, colleagues?