Olympic silver medalist and World Championship bronze medalist Evgeny Korotyshkin discussed the decision by Russian sports authorities to skip the World Championship, the final major qualifying event ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. He highlighted how international restrictions and the specific requirements placed on Russian athletes factor into choices about participation, and he emphasized that tournament security is a critical concern for everyone involved, a point he shared with socialbites.ca.
“If there is no real path to the Olympic Games because of ongoing access limits, how can we even map out the true four-year cycle for athletes? The priority is clear: safety comes first. Even when there is genuine desire to compete and athletes have trained for years for these moments, unresolved security risks make competition impossible to justify. No matter the drive to participate, the risk to athletes cannot be ignored”, Korotyshkin stated.
During autumn 2023, World Aquatics allowed Russian and Belarusian competitors to take part under a neutral flag in certain events. At present, only swimmer Ivan Girev holds the neutral athlete designation among Russians.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) clarified that Russian competitors must agree to updated participation terms, which require adherence to the Olympic Charter and acceptance of the Olympic movement’s peaceful mission. Athletes who achieve high rankings in their disciplines would be eligible to compete under these updated conditions, subject to continued assurances of safety and neutrality.
Previously, the International Swimming Federation indicated that no Russian athletes were registered for the World Aquatics Championships, underscoring the ongoing complexity surrounding Russian participation on the international stage. The evolving landscape reflects a broader conversation about eligibility, security, and the responsibilities of sporting bodies to protect athletes while striving to preserve competitive integrity.