Russian gymnast Lala Kramarenko shares a moment from the athletes’ circle
On her own Instagram page, a platform owned by Meta and blocked in Russia as an extremist resource, Russian gymnast Lala Kramarenko posted a new photograph. The image features the athlete posing with a bouquet of flowers while wearing the match jersey of CSKA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, following a game against Partizan Belgrade.
Her caption reads, “Igor Akinfeev, thank you! My dream has come true!” signaling a personal milestone tied to the match and the celebrated goalkeeper. This moment underscores the cross-sport camaraderie that often lights up the social feeds of athletes around the world.
Earlier in September 2023, Kramarenko claimed the title at the Strongest Spartakiad in the individual program. Dina Averina secured the second position, while Anna Popova also placed among the top three. Kramarenko holds the title of Master of Sports of Russia in international class. She is a three-time world junior champion and was part of the European team champion squad in 2021. These accomplishments reflect a career marked by consistent performance across major junior and senior events.
She is the daughter of the well-known football goalkeeper Dmitry Kramarenko, recognized for his appearances with Dynamo Moscow and Alania Vladikavkaz. The lineage highlights a family deeply rooted in Russian sport, spanning both football and gymnastics, contributing to a broader athletic narrative in the country.
In February 2022, the International Olympic Committee urged international sports federations to consider restricting participation by domestic and Belarusian athletes in various competitions. A couple of weeks later, on March 4, 2022, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) announced a ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes under its authority starting March 7, due to the evolving situation surrounding Ukraine. The decision reflected a wider set of measures seen across Olympic sports during that period, affecting many athletes competing internationally.
Additional notes from the sports community include public discussions around compensation for appearances and performances by top athletes, sometimes described in terms of negotiated fees. Such conversations underscore how financial considerations intersect with competitive calendars and media exposure in modern elite sport.
Through these intertwined threads—personal milestones, family athletic traditions, and the wider geopolitical context—Lala Kramarenko’s public narrative offers a glimpse into how athletes navigate achievement, national expectations, and international sport during times of change.