German cross-country skiers protested on the Winter Paralympics podium by turning their backs to Russian gold medallists.
The protest came after the International Paralympic Committee lifted its suspension of Russia, allowing athletes to compete under their national flag for the first time since 2014. Russia had been banned for state-sponsored doping and later faced additional sanctions following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Medal Ceremony Protest
On Tuesday, Anastasiia Bagiian and her guide Sergei Siniakin won gold in the women’s sprint classic vision-impaired event.
As Russia’s anthem played, Germany’s Linn Kazmaier and her guide Florian Baumann, the silver medallists, turned their backs to the Russian athletes.
Kazmaier told Bild: “The medal ceremony felt completely strange… It is so totally overshadowed by politics. That is why we decided to leave our hats on and not turn towards the flag, because we do not support it.”
Baumann added that their action was about solidarity with Ukraine, not the Russian athletes themselves: “It’s difficult for many of them, but the IPC’s decision to have Russia here under their flag while the Ukrainians are present is simply not correct.”
Context of Russian Participation
Six Russian and four Belarusian athletes are competing at the Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics following the IPC’s ban lift.
Teams from seven countries, including Ukraine, boycotted the opening ceremony in Verona in protest.
Earlier, Russia’s first gold medal, won by para-alpine skier Varvara Voronchikhina, did not see a similar protest.
Kazmaier and Baumann also refused to participate in the customary medallists’ selfie.
IPC Response
The IPC confirmed it is reviewing the protest. The German Paralympic Committee has been contacted for comment.
