Russia won its first Winter Paralympic medals since 2014 on Saturday when Varvara Voronchikhina and Aleksei Bugaev took bronze in the men’s and women’s downhill events in Cortina.
Despite Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has allowed six Russian athletes and four from ally Belarus to represent their countries, accompanied by their national flags, rather than competing as neutrals.
The move sparked a backlash: Friday’s opening ceremony was boycotted by seven countries, including Ukraine, and the Russian delegation was booed by some spectators at the Verona Arena during the athletes’ parade.
Read moreThe Winter Paralympic Games officially open, Russian athletes are greeted with boos
Speaking after winning her nation’s first medal since the 2014 Games in Sochi, Voronchikhina, 23, said: “For us it’s been a long time without a flag.
“I am very happy and so is my entire country and all my teammates.”
“I’m very happy because it’s my first medal.”
Russia was banned from the 2018 Games due to a doping scandal, although some athletes were allowed to compete in neutral colors.
Russia and Belarus were then excluded from the 2022 Paralympics following the invasion of Ukraine, although they were allowed to compete as neutral athletes at the Paris Summer Paralympics two years later.
Voronchikhina said that four years ago in Beijing she was ready to compete before Russia was suspended by the IPC.
“In Beijing we were there,” said the Paralympic debutant. “I had the third downhill training session and then we had to return home.
“For me it was very, very sad and I hope that in these Games it will be better and it will be.”
Later on Saturday, three-time gold medalist Bugaev collected the eighth medal of his Paralympic career by finishing third in the men’s downhill category.
“I would say it was a difficult medal, even one of the most difficult of my career,” he said. “But I’m very happy to be able to represent my country again.”
The 28-year-old added: “It’s nice when they don’t deprive you of anything, they don’t limit you, they don’t force you not to reveal yourself, like it was in Korea (2018), for example, when they combined the two colors of our flag.
“We are happy to be able to compete here on equal terms. And even more so to bring home a medal so that the flag can fly.”
Both Voronchikhina and Bugaev received polite applause from the crowd at the foot of the Olympia delle Tofane track as their medals were placed around their necks during the podium ceremonies.
At least one Russian flag was raised in the stands to salute their success.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
