03/09/26 10:15:00
Printable Page
03/09 09:06 CDT Russian anthem rings out at Paralympics for first time in 12
years after Voronchikhina takes gold
Russian anthem rings out at Paralympics for first time in 12 years after
Voronchikhina takes gold
By TALES AZZONI
AP Sports Writer
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) --- Russia's national anthem rang out at the
Paralympics for the first time in more than a decade after Para alpine skier
Varvara Voronchikhina won gold on Monday.
Russian athletes are back competing under their own flag in the Winter
Paralympics at Milan Cortina, after years of having to do so as neutral
athletes because of the country's doping violations and military conflicts.
The 23-year-old Voronchikhina, who claimed bronze in the downhill two days
earlier, finished first in the women's super-G standing competition.
With the Russian flag flying high during the podium ceremony shortly after the
event, the anthem was played and Voronchikhina sang along, smiling. She raised
her right hand to apparently wipe away tears only a few seconds in.
When it was over, she raised both her arms to celebrate as the crowd applauded.
There was also applause when her name was announced as the gold medalist during
the ceremony.
It is the first time Russia's anthem has been played at a major global sporting
event since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the first time to be heard at
the Paralympics since the 2014 Games in Sochi.
"It's really special for me because I can see my flag on my friends who arrived
here," she said. "Maybe now I can't believe it, and I don't understand what
happened. Maybe a little bit later I (will) see my gold medal. It's so special
for me really.
"It's amazing," she said. "I have a big support in my family and my friends and
all people in Russia."
The Russian national anthem for a gold medal win had not been heard at any
Olympics or Paralympics since the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Games.
Russian athletes were initially banned because of a state-sponsored doping
program, and the sanctions had continued after the invasion.
Russia arrived at Milan Cortina with six athletes. The International Paralympic
Committee gave wildcard entries to Russian athletes, a decision that upset
Ukraine and a few other nations that boycotted the opening ceremony on Friday.
Athletes from Russia's close ally Belarus also were allowed to compete under
wildcard entries.
There were some boos toward the Russian delegation in the ceremony in Verona,
and some rival athletes have criticized the Russian presence at Milan Cortina.
"There is war and we are against war," said wheelchair curler Polina Rozkova of
Latvia, one of the countries that boycotted the opening ceremony. "It's not
allowed (to have a) country under their own flag when their country is
attacking another country."
___
AP Sports Writer Daniella Matar contributed to this report from Milan.
___
AP Winter Paralympics: https://apnews.com/hub/paralympic-games
|
