In a few hours, Kryszina Zimanouskaja (24) would have been a competitor of our sprint star Mujinga Kambundji (29). The Belarusian wanted to qualify for the next round over 200 m. But this does not occur. The National Olympic Committee of Belarus said on Telegram that the runner had been examined by a doctor and would not take part in any further competitions because of her “emotional and psychological state”.
But the athlete says: Your committee is lying. She is very healthy. Instead, Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko (66) wants to kidnap you! Because she has criticized it publicly.
Too few doping tests, wrong disciplines
Two supervisors came to her room on Sunday and told her to pack her things. Then they drove to the airport together, Zimanouskaja told the Reuters news agency. There she should have got on a plane and flown back to Belarus.
Your story sounds plausible. Because if Lukashenko doesn’t like something, it’s compatriots who have their own thoughts. And Zimanouskaja complained about her trainers on social media the days before. She said that many Belarusian athletes had not done enough doping tests and had to stay at home. She should therefore have taken their place in disciplines for which she was not trained. She told Reuters news agency: “The coaches nominated me for the 4x400m relay without my knowledge. I’ve talked about that in public. Then the head coach came to me and said that someone up above had ordered me to be removed from the team. ”
Asylum in Germany or Austria
But the Belarusians had not counted on Zimanouskaja’s fighting spirit. At the airport, she resisted her regime. Using video, she asked the International Olympic Committee for help: they were trying to get her out of the country without her consent. At the airport she also managed to attract the attention of the local authorities. “I’m with the police,” she told Reuters. «I think I am sure». The police confirmed that an athlete from Belarus was with them at the airport.
The Belarusian Olympic Committee has not yet commented further. Nothing is heard from Lukashenko either. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is now investigating the case.
Criticism is punished
Alexander Lukashenko has been President of Belarus since 1994. Criticism of the dictator is often referred to by his regime as a “mental disorder”, and opposition members are imprisoned under this charge.
Last year, numerous people protested against Lukashenko in the streets of Belarus. Including prominent athletes such as basketball player Alena Leutschanka and decathlete Andrej Krautschanka. You were arrested along with countless other government critics. Other protesters lost their jobs with the state or were kicked out of national teams.
“To behave like this is confusing”
The exiled Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tichanovskaya (38) said to “Bild”: “This is further evidence of the inhumanity and inadequacy of the regime. To behave like this during the biggest sporting event is confusing. The toxicity of the regime continues to increase, it is dangerous for the whole world. Those who support the regime risk participating in its toxicity. “
An anonymous source told Reuters that Zimanouskaja was planning to ask for asylum in Germany or Austria on Monday. The Olympic Games are likely to continue without the Belarusian. (vof)