Ukrainian Swimmer Refuses to be Photographed with Russian Competitor
A rare public display of tension between Ukrainian and Russian athletes has been seen at the European Aquatics Championships, where a Ukrainian swimmer refused to be photographed with his Russian competitor.
Ukrainian swimmer Nikita Sheremet made headlines at the recent European Aquatics Championships by refusing to be photographed with his Russian competitor Egor Kornev on the podium of the men's 50 free event.
This rare public display of tension between Ukrainian and Russian athletes has been seen in the spotlight of athletics as war rages between the two nations. Ukraine has been actively lobbying international sporting associations to continue excluding Russia (and Belarus) from international competitions, but most of the Olympic movement has readmitted those athletes to one degree or another.
Athletes from Russia were still competing under the banner of Authorized Neutral Athletes at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris. Sheremet won gold in the men's 50 free, while Kornev tied for silver.
The Ukrainian Sheremet asked not to be photographed with the Russian Kornev after the race. This was one of three times that athletes from Ukraine and Russia shared podiums at the championships, with the other two instances being in diving events.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been ongoing since February 2022, with Russia gradually being barred from most major international sporting competitions in the early months of fighting. However, over time, the initial sanctions have been lifted, allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes who have not publicly affiliated with the military conflict to compete as neutral athletes.
| Event | Ukrainian Athlete | Russian Athlete | | --- | --- | --- | | Men's 50 free | Nikita Sheremet (gold) | Egor Kornev (silver) | | Diving event 1 | | | | Diving event 2 | | |
The conflict has had a significant impact on both countries, with estimated civilian deaths in Ukraine ranging from 125,000 to 150,000, and at least 12,000 documented civilian deaths according to the United Nations. The fighting has also resulted in significant losses on the Russian side, with estimated deaths ranging from 450,000 to 500,000.
The incident at the European Aquatics Championships highlights the ongoing tension between Ukraine and Russia, and the complexities of international sporting competitions in the face of conflict.
