“He resigned from all his duties”
Rio de Janeiro – Alexander Lesun, the famed Russian pentathlete and the 2016 Olympic champion, spoke with the BBC to announce his retirement from professional sport. The news quickly spread across the globe, drawing attention to a career that had been marked by both its peaks and its upheavals.
“I was proud to compete under the Russian flag. Russia has always held a special place in my heart, something strong and beautiful. And I’m not speaking about politics or the military, but about the people and the natural grandeur,” the athlete conveyed in the interview, as reported by the press. He reflected on the strong bond he felt with his homeland while emphasizing the human and natural sides that made the country meaningful to him.
“I stepped away from all sports roles two days before everything began. I’m at a loss for words—astonishment hardly covers it. I understand the world won’t be the same. The situation inside Russia has grown extremely tough. Where once people could be detained for 15 days for attending a rally, now the penalties can reach three years, or even 15 years for other forms of protest,” he explained. He suggested that athletes in Russia have become tools of propaganda, a reality that weighs on each individual as they must decide how to live with it.
Lesun added that Russian athletes are currently unable to influence the situation in any meaningful way, and many may not even grasp what is happening. The interview generated widespread reaction, with some outlets speculating that his departure from the national team was tied to Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Lesun soon clarified that his own statements did not reference specific military operations, noting that the media had misinterpreted his words.
“The angle of this material shifted dramatically, and I was surprised by that. The words may look like mine, yet journalists altered the message. In February I stated that I would finish my sports career and that I did not want to continue in modern pentathlon. This is not connected to any special operation in Ukraine,” Lesun told Match TV in a subsequent interview. He reiterated that his reasons for stepping away were not linked to politics but to broader issues within the modern pentathlon world and his personal relationship with the sport’s federation.
He stated that the decision did not stem from political turmoil in Russia, but rather from ongoing concerns about the sport itself and what was happening within its governing bodies. Having lived in Belarus and then returning to Russia, he acknowledged the pivotal role Russia played in his rise to Olympic champion, crediting the Russian coaching staff for guiding his career. He explained that the federation had informed him they no longer required his services, and he would explore future possibilities, including potential roles outside competition.
There had been talk of him taking up a position as a fencing expert, but that prospect did not meet his expectations. He described ongoing misunderstandings and said he would continue exploring options while evaluating where his talents could best contribute next.
iconic athlete
Lesun remains an iconic figure in Russia’s modern pentathlon history. He is counted among a small group of domestic Olympians and multiple Olympic medallists in this demanding sport. His achievements sit alongside long-standing Russian success in the pentathlon’s world stage, underscoring how pivotal his career has been for the country’s presence in the sport.
Looking back, the record shows a path marked by resilience and consistency. In 1996, Eduard Zenovka earned a silver medal in Atlanta, Dmitry Svatkovsky captured Russia’s first Olympic gold in pentathlon at the following Games, and Andrey Moiseev collected back-to-back Olympic medals in 2004 and 2008. Lesun previously competed in London 2012, where he finished fourth in a race that had placed him in a position to contend for medals mid-competition. Four years later in Rio, he not only reclaimed the podium but set records across fencing and the overall pentathlon standings, underscoring his lasting impact on the sport.
Many expected him to compete in Tokyo 2020, but the pandemic disrupted plans and recovery timelines, affecting his form and readiness. His career, however, is marked by a broader collection of accolades—multiple world championships medals and continental titles—that illustrate the breadth of his influence beyond the Olympic stage. At 33, Lesun had accumulated a diverse trophy cabinet, including four world championship titles, five silver medals, and two bronze medals, along with continental golds and bronzes that highlighted his dominance across the sport’s major arenas.
Notably, Lesun’s service extended beyond sports. He once held the rank of senior lieutenant within the National Guard, a distinction he earned after his Rio triumph—an embodiment of the intersection between athletic achievement and national service that has defined his public life.
“He hasn’t been on the team for a long time”
The Russian Pentathlon Federation president Vyacheslav Aminov commented on Lesun’s remarks, noting that the athlete’s statements reflected a personal view rather than federation policy. He stressed that Lesun has not been part of the national team for some time and is not part of the coaching staff. The federation official described the statements as an emotional personal opinion not shared by the federation or its technical team, suggesting that any disagreements may have arisen from Lesun seeking new opportunities or considering a different path outside the current national framework.
“There have been no recent movements toward integrating him back into the team, and any discussions would require alignment with federation rules. If he regains clarity and follows the federation’s guidelines, there could be a discussion about a possible future,” Aminov indicated.
“I trust Lesun”
For sports publication socialbites.ca, Alexander Tikhonov, a renowned biathlete and former head of the Russian Biathlon Union, weighed in on the situation. He commented on the broader issues surrounding federations and athletes, noting that many sports have faced governance difficulties, including rivalries and restructuring that can affect athletes regardless of external events. Tikhonov highlighted that internal federation problems sometimes overshadow individual careers, making it crucial for athletes to adapt to shifting organizational landscapes. He pointed to ongoing governance questions within different sports and suggested that changes in leadership or structure may influence an athlete’s relationship with national teams.
He also reflected on broader patterns in Russian sports governance, mentioning past disqualifications and international suspensions in various disciplines and how those issues have sometimes created a sense of isolation within teams. The discussion underscored the complex, ongoing dynamics that accompany elite competition, governance, and national representation, especially when external events intersect with long-running federation politics. The broader takeaway centers on the need for clear, consistent policies that support athletes while maintaining accountability within sport mass organizations.