German cross-country skiers turned their backs on the Russian gold medallists on the Winter Paralympics podium in protest against the nation’s inclusion at the Games.
For the first time since 2014, Russian athletes are competing under their nation’s flag at a Paralympics after the International Paralympic Committee lifted its suspension of the country in September.
Russia and its athletes had been banned following the state-sponsored doping scandal before further sanctions followed after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
On Tuesday, Anastasiia Bagiian and her guide Sergei Siniakin won gold in the women’s sprint classic vision impaired event, Russia’s second of three golds at the Games so far.
As the national anthem played, Germany’s Linn Kazmaier and her guide Florian Baumann, the silver medallists, turned their backs to the Russians.
Speaking to German outlet Bild,, external Kazmaier said: “The medal ceremony felt completely strange. I don’t know the [Russians], I don’t know if perhaps they also support the system in Russia as little as we do.
“Perhaps they are really nice people, who we could be friends with. That it is so totally overshadowed by politics is simply a complete shame.
“That’s why we decided to leave our hats on and not turn towards the flag, because we do not support it.”
In total, six Russian athletes and four from Belarus – an ally of Russia – are competing at the Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics after the lifting of the IPC’s ban.
As a result, teams from seven countries – including Ukraine – boycotted Friday’s opening ceremony in Verona.
Para-alpine skier Varvara Voronchikhina won Russia’s first gold on Monday – her medal ceremony proceeded with no protest.
Bild also reported that Kazmaier and Baumann refused to be involved in the medallists’ selfie that takes place after every medal ceremony.
“Four years ago in Beijing we had a great exchange with the Ukrainians. We wanted to show solidarity to them,” said Baumann.
“It’s not about the Russian athletes, themselves. It’s also difficult for many of them, but the IPC’s decision to have Russia here under their flag, with their anthem and their full contingent in attendance, while the Ukrainians are also here, I find simply not correct.”
The IPC told BBC Sport it was aware of the protest and is gathering and analysing evidence on the matter.
The German Paralympic Committee has been contacted for comment.
