So who really helps athletes from Russia?

4 years ago I remember well the Russian athlete Ulyana Batashova. She came for an interview at the publication where I had the honor of working. Very interesting opinions, a philosophical attitude towards the fact that her sport — pentathlon — is of little interest to anyone. And smart ideas on how to make it more popular.

Now I remembered Ulyana, having read about the absolutely shameful story with her federation. The case is incredibly revealing.

The Olympics are coming soon. And therefore, those who want to be an athlete, and not sit on a salary in some kind of sports department, are busy obtaining neutral status. There is probably no need to remind you for the hundredth time why the Russian team will not be at the Games in Paris. In Russian pentathlon, no one except Batashova was involved in obtaining a pass to the Olympics. Most athletes decided: a contract with the so-called «power structures» is much more pleasant than sports feats.

Ulyana is the only exception. At the Tokyo Games three years ago, she was in the lead before the last event, but that’s where it didn’t work out — she came ninth.

At the end of 2023, she was the only one who did not renew the contract with those same structures. I applied for «neutral status» and received it. Moreover, of course, there were no questions in the documents about the attitude towards the SVO. All the «questionnaires about betrayal of the motherland» turned out to be lies of sports functionaries and television idle talkers, ready to pick up any bark when they need to brand someone.

And do you know what comes out? Those who had already ceased to be athletes — who refused to even try to compete at the Games — remained at their bets in clubs, national teams, etc. Who was kicked out of the national team? Who was removed from all bets at once? Well, you can already guess. Of course, Ulyana Batashova.