Two-time Olympic champion Sofia Velikaya said that Russian fencers going to the USA have the right to manage their lives independently. His words were quoted RIA News.
“This is absolutely their life, this is their right. “I’m sitting at home (laughs),” said the athlete.
In the summer, spouses Sergei and Violetta Bida, who had previously competed for the Russian team at the previous Olympic Games, left Russia for the USA. Before that, another fencer of the national team, Konstantin Lokhanov, moved abroad. All of them now work as coaches in the United States and participate in American competitions, including qualifying competitions to join the national team.
At the end of December, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs placed Sergei and Violetta Bida on the wanted list.
Sofia Velikaya is a two-time Olympic champion in 2016 and 2020 in the team championship, three-time silver medalist at the Olympic Games 2012, 2016 and 2020 in the individual championship, eight-time world champion and 14-time European champion, multiple champion of Russia.
Former UFC title challenger statedHe said that Russia’s position in politics is close to his own.