Champion Swimmer's Meager Pay and Personal Anguish
Anna Yegorova, a decorated Russian swimmer, has publicly criticized the compensation she receives from the national team, revealing she was paid a mere 17,878 rubles and 28 kopecks, equivalent to about 150 euros. Yegorova, a multiple-time Russian national champion, national record holder, and European Championship medalist, has been a team member since 2013. She contends that her current salary is both humiliating and a devaluation of her work.
"I consider this a humiliation. A devaluation. A disrespect for my work," stated Anna Yegorova.
In her statement, the athlete elaborated: 'You know, I love swimming very much. And I don't swim for money. Perhaps if I swam for money, I would have stopped a long time ago. I'm not in sports for contracts. I'm in it because it's my life. I have proven my level many times; I've been on the national team since 2013. I am a multiple Russian champion. A Russian record holder. A multiple European Championship medalist. And I'm still in the ranks. Yes, I am now an older athlete. Yes, I had a turning point. But I didn't give up. I continue to train every day. Today I am in complete shock. My salary to date is 17,000 rubles (150 euros). 17,000 rubles is the salary of an athlete who has repeatedly demonstrated her results.'
Involvement of Skater Alexandra Sayutina
Separately, reports indicate that Russian speed skater Alexandra Sayutina will participate in Vladimir Putin's annual address to the Federal Assembly on February 29, 2024. The International Skating Union (ISU) has recognized Sayutina as a neutral athlete. The event will also be attended by the president's associates and Russian military personnel who have participated in the war against Ukraine.
Yegorova's remarks highlight broader systemic issues in Russian sports funding, where low stipends can hinder talent development and push athletes into early retirement. This situation stands in stark contrast to the state's use of other athletes for political purposes. The participation of a state-sanctioned 'neutral' athlete like Sayutina in a major political event underscores the deep integration of sports and state propaganda in Russia. These parallel stories reveal the complex and often contradictory pressures facing athletes in the country, caught between inadequate financial support and political co-option.