Paralympians Meet with Captain Grishin
On March 17, 2026, Paralympic athletes from the Russian Federation held a meeting with Roman Grishin. Grishin, who serves as the director of the Center for Sports Training of Russian National Teams, is also a military captain who participated in the war against Ukraine. During the meeting, he presented honorary certificates to the athletes and their coaches.
German Athletes' Refusal
In a separate incident, German athletes Lynn Kasmayer and her guide Florian Baumann declined to take a joint selfie with Russian Paralympian Anastasia Bagiyan, who had won the sprint event at the Paralympic Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. During the playing of the Russian national anthem, the German pair turned away and did not remove their hats. In a group photo, Kasmayer and Baumann maintained a distance from Bagiyan and her guide, Sergei Siniakin.
Florian Baumann expressed his dissatisfaction with the International Paralympic Committee's decision to allow Russian athletes to compete under their own flag and anthem. He stated:
“Four years ago in Beijing, we had wonderful contact with the Ukrainians. We wanted to express our solidarity with them. This is not about the Russian athletes. For many of them, it is also very difficult right now. But the decision of the International Paralympic Committee that Russia can compete here under its own flag, with its own anthem, while Ukrainians are also present, I simply consider wrong.”
Lynn Kasmayer also emphasized her position, saying: “On a human level, I am very happy for these people. They might be very nice people with whom we could even be friends. But it is simply politically unacceptable. It feels strange and wrong.” This incident highlights the ongoing tension surrounding the participation of Russian athletes in international competitions, a situation that has persisted since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The episode underscores the growing strain between athletes from countries supporting Ukraine and representatives of Russia, particularly within the context of the ongoing military conflict. The refusal of the German athletes to interact with their Russian counterparts on the international stage indicates that political and social issues continue to significantly impact the world of sport. The International Paralympic Committee's decision to permit Russian athletes to compete under their own flag remains controversial, raising questions about the principles of equality and fairness in athletics.
This incident mirrors the recent actions of German Paralympians who turned away from the Russian flag, which has sparked discussions about historical context and political stances in sports. For further insights into this ongoing controversy and its implications, read more about how these athletes are navigating their positions in the face of complex geopolitical issues in our detailed report on the German athletes' response.