Alexander Tikhonov, a four-time Olympic champion from Russia, gave a sharp response to the statement of Swedish biathlete Sebastian Samuelsson, who said that neutral Russian athletes cannot exist at all. Tikhonov compared Sweden to pro-fascist countries and expressed a desire for Samuelsson's grandfather to have died in the war so that such athletes like him would not appear in the future.
“The Swede Samuelsson needs to be reminded of Lake Chud. In general, for us, all of Scandinavia is pro-fascist countries right now. It's a pity that his grandfather was not destroyed during the war, so that such Samuelssons would not be born anymore. Sport should be above politics, so let him stick to this rule. This Swede showed up here.”
Alexander Sayutin and Veronika Stepanova were noticed at a propaganda event where Vladimir Putin spoke. This violates the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee regarding the participation of neutral athletes in political events. Russian servicemen also took part in the separate events, which increases the tension between sport and politics.
Recent events in sports reflect the complex relationship between sports and politics, as well as the issues related to the participation of neutral athletes in political activities. The 2026 Olympics in Italy promises to be yet another battlefield in this area.