“Such “neighborhood” concerns. This decision was not coordinated or discussed with us in any way.” Ukrainian ice dancers on former Russian skaters Davis/Smolkin joining the IAM Academy.
Ukrainian ice dancers and Federation of Figure Skating commented on former Russian skaters Davis/Smolkin joining the IAM Academy.
original source: suspilne.media
It was announced recently that former Russian skaters Diana Davis and Gleb Smolkin who now represent Georgia are joining the IAM Acedemy. Ukrainian team Mariia Holubtsova and Kyryl Bielobrov who train in the same academy comments on the news as well as Ukrainian figure skating federation. Here’s a translation of their comments and part of the article posted on Suspilne Sport.
“Diana and Gleb approached us two years ago, but it was not the right time,” coach Romain Haguenauer told to Russian “Match TV”. “We decided that the situation is improving now, so we started cooperation.” Suspilne Sport sent a request to IAM to comment on this decision and to explain what exactly the coach meant by “improvement of the situation”, but received no response.
“I don’t know what improvement of the situation he means,” reacted Daniil Amirhanov, president of the Ukrainian Figure Skating Federation, to the words of Haguenauer. “Maybe it has improved for him. Not for us. It has become much harder, given that the war is continuing. Such a statement is unacceptable for us.”
How do Holubtsova and Bielobrov react to the appearance of Russians in the academy?
Mariia Holubtsova admitted that both of them react “negatively” to such a replenishment in the team, but declined further comments.
Kyryl Bielobrov pointed out that the appearance of a Russian pair in IAM “surprised” some of his colleagues in the academy, and such “neighborhood” concerns Ukrainians themselves. This decision was not coordinated or discussed with them in any way, according to him. As of now, Mariia and Kyryl cannot say what they plan to do about it.
What is the position of the Ukrainian Federation?
The UFSC reported that they will talk to Ukrainian athletes to “minimize any communication with Russian representatives”, even if they represent Georgia.
“We do not support any relations with former Russian athletes, regardless of the team they represent,” said Amirhanov. “We have not yet communicated with the [academy] leadership, but we will certainly inform them of our position”. At the same time, the president of the UFSC did not agree that the information policy from the Ukrainian side failed, and does not believe that the world of figure skating has forgotten about the war, and that support for Ukraine has weakened.
“I wouldn’t say that we don’t communicate anything,” Amirhanov is convinced. “We always assert our point of view, we tell, we show. But you understand, each federation and organization decides issues at their discretion. We approximately know what [affects]. Maybe somewhere money, maybe common activities. We are doing everything on our front to prevent them. Unfortunately, not everything depends on us. Our entire federation has a negative attitude towards the aggressor. But they use all opportunities to somehow return to figure skating.”
Related topics: Diana Davis Gleb Smolkin, Marie-France Dubreuil Patrice Lauzon, Mariia Holubtsova Kyryl Bielobrov, Romaine Haguenauer
To Hanna: Russian propaganda is playing the imperial / colonial greatness. Some Russians might even believe it. But you may find exactly the same sentiment in Britain, Netherlands, France etc.. Russian leaders are pure mafia and are running the country by force and suppression. But if you look at the history a lot of other countries have gone through the same ‘stage’, like Germany, Spain, Italy.. There is nothing special about Russian DNA;)
To moderator of this site
Do you now allow pure Kremlin’s propaganda and lies here? Because the post of Vaclav Sedlacek is just that. A textbook example.
That comment was deleted.
To „No war”
I perfectly agree with you as to Western blindness around Putin, at least before war but unfortunately still present here and there. As to Diana and my somehow stupid expression “Russian blood” I of course meant she cannot fully count as Russian national. So if you wanted to suggest some kind of racism here you are fishing in wrong water. But do you really try to tell me that Russian nation does not have their very specific characteristics, like those unlucky dreams about their (yours?) imperial, colonial “greatness”??
To Hanna: Do you think Russians have different blood from yours…? A new separate blood group? The blood group which makes you to a warrior. Interesting. Sounds like biology books need updating!
To Hanna: So called ‘western’ countries have been happily dealing with Putin, making him stronger. Did not foreign leaders know who Mr Putin and his regime were? Yes, they perfectly knew who he was, but they couldn’t resist the profits coming from Russia. Putin got income from the ‘west’ which he used to suppress and brainwash the Russians while heavily arming his own ‘guards’. Unarmed resistance in Russia does not have any chance against Putin’s ‘guards’.
“Russians have created him”?? Do you think Russians in their 20s, even in their 30s, created him? He got voted once in 2000 and never left, there are no political parties who can oppose to him and you blame people who didn’t even vote for him the first time he got elected? Please. This is nothing but pure racism, I’m sorry for the poor Ukrainian people who have lost lives and homes but this is nothing but racism
Putin did not create Russians. Russians have created him. Always have this in mind.
As for Diana and Gleb I can only trust they do not support this war. I haven’t seen any of this anywhere, so yes, maybe they’re clean. Let’s hope for it. With that said I do understand the tough stance of Ukrainians, although I know they need support from and communication with Russians who are truly, I repeat, truly against Putin. And back to Diana – not so much Russian blood in her, I reckon?
Diana and Gleb did not start the war. Putin did.