“We work things out among ourselves”
Russian cross-country star poisons against Norwegians
4/4/2022 5:23 p.m
In her Russian homeland, criticism of cross-country star Veronika Stepanova has recently been voiced at the highest level. A Norwegian reporter wants to get to the bottom of the matter and asks the shooting star for a statement. The answer comes promptly – and has it all.
Since the Olympic Games in Beijing, Veronika Stepanova has been one of the most prominent Russian winter sports stars. With her sporting achievements, but above all thanks to her presence on social media, she has increased her level of awareness many times over in recent weeks. In the sporting management of the Russian team, this is seen quite critically.
The Russian association president Yelena Välbe said on the sidelines of the national championships at the weekend, in which Stepanova did not take part: “Veronika Stepanova is probably suffering from star fever.” She regularly feels the need to call her and tell her “that she should train instead of appearing on TV and selling her face,” criticized Välbe.
The fact that Stepanova did not take part in the national championships – she officially canceled her start because of a cold – annoyed the association president: “Everyone is here at the championships. What is she doing in Moscow? I don’t understand it. Is she sick or is she not sick? If she’s sick, she should get treatment. So why the hell is she there [in Moskau]?”
Stepanova is a talented runner, “but she’s not Natalya Nepryayeva, that much is clear. Everything has been easy for her until now. […] If she decides to become famous in this way, then so be it,” Välbe criticized the regular TV appearances of the Beijing Olympic relay champion.
Stepanova himself initially did not want to comment on the criticism. On her Telegram channel, she simply stated that “of course she didn’t want to have a public debate with the sporting leadership”. “I don’t feel guilty, but I will analyze and take the criticism into account,” she said. The Russian showed significantly less restraint towards a Norwegian journalist from the TV channel “NRK”. He asked the runner to comment on a story about Välbe’s criticism. Stepanova answered him via Instagram.
“The last thing I care about is a Norwegian journalist who wants to give me a chance to explain myself,” she wrote alongside a screenshot showing the journalist’s request. “You want a comment? Here it is: why don’t you mind your own business – Russians work things out among themselves. Thank you!” she added.