Removed from participation in the Olympics for criticizing the coaches and preparations, Belarusian sprinter Kryscina Cimanouska gave an interview to the German “Bild” on Tuesday. As she said, she could not imagine that the matter could get this size. She stressed that she had never been involved in politics. She also said that she “would very much like to continue her sports career”.
Belarusian athlete Kryscina Cimanouska, which received a Polish humanitarian visa and was to fly LOT’s flight to Warsaw, changed plans at the last minute and is on a plane to Vienna, the Reuters agency reported on Wednesday. According to her source, the plans changed due to security issues and were agreed with Polish diplomats. Cimanouska is under their care, said Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Przydacz on Wednesday morning.
On Sunday, the athlete informed that in connection with the criticism of the actions of the sports authorities of her country she was excluded from participating in the Gamesand the officers tried to force her to leave for Belarus.
Kryscina Cimanouska at the Tokyo airportReuters
Cimanouska: I’ve never been involved in politics
On Tuesday evening, Cimanouska gave an interview for the German “Bilda”. When asked what could be done for her at the moment, she replied that this was to ensure a safe flight to Europe. – And when I get there, I will meet people from the Belarusian Sports Solidarity Foundation and we will decide on our plans for the future, as well as on where I should turn later – she said.
– I have never been involved in politics, and the whole situation did not concern me at the beginning – she said in an interview. – I only spoke about the negligence of our head coaches because they made the decision about the relay race without taking into account the opinions of other athletes. I do not understand how you can send an application and assign competitors to the relay race, if these competitors have nothing to do with this competition – said Cimanouska. – I never imagined that this case could take on such proportions and turn into such a huge political scandal – she added.
Kryscin Cimanouska SERGEY DOLZHENKO / EPA / PAP
Cimanouska about my future: I would like to continue my career in any country
In an interview with Cimanouska, PW also spoke about her future. As she admitted, she would love to continue her sports career. “It would be great to be able to do this in any country as I am 24 years old and have plans for at least the next two Olympics, so I hope my plans will be realized and I will be able to participate in the upcoming Olympics,” she said.
– As an athlete I feel absolutely down, I was not given the chance to perform fully at the Olympics, I was deprived of the chance to show myself in the 200-meter race – she pointed out. As the Olympian emphasized, she was ready for this distance and had been preparing for it for a long time. “So I feel a little depressed now, but I hope to be able to get back on track in the future and continue my performance on the treadmill,” she added.
Main photo source: Reuters