Russian swimmer na si Yuliya Efimova nabigyan ng Olympics opportunity
Russia's Yuliya Efimova after placing second in the women's 100m breaststroke final at the 2016 Olympics in Rio / Martin BUREAU / AFP/File
Si Yuliya Efimova ang unang Russian swimmer na nabigyan ng neutral status para sa Paris Olympics, ngunit sinabi niyang maaaring mahirapan siyang maabot ang qualifying standard.
Si Efimova, na nanalo ng silver medals sa 100m at 200m breaststroke events sa Rio Olympics, at bronze naman sa 200m breaststroke sa London 2012, ay binigyan ng governing body ng swimming na World Aquatics ng neutral status para sa Paris.
Matatandaan na binawalan ng World Aquatics ang mga atleta ng Russia at Belarus kasunod ng pagsalakay sa Ukraine noong February 2022, subalit noong September 2023 ay sinabing maaari nang bumalik sa kumpetisyon ang mga ito bilang neutrals kung maabot nila ang specific criteria.
Gayunman, sinabi ng 32-anyos na si Efimova na mahihirapan siyang ma-meet ang qualifying deadline ng Olympics na June 23 at wala rin siyang visa para sa Europe, kaya hindi siya makalalahok sa mga event kung saan maaari siyang mag-qualify.
Aniya, “They gave it (the neutral status) to me today but it’s a big problem that I don’t have enough time for the international qualification.”
Sinabi ni Efimova, “(The competitions) all finish on June 23 – either they have happened or they are happening next week. The most important thing is, World Aquatics quickly looked at my application and they support me, for me to perform at the Olympics. But I don’t have a visa for Europe and I don’t have access to the international qualifying start and they are all finishing.”
Ayon pa kay Efimova, na isa ring six-time gold medallist sa world championships, “I believe that theoretically, I could achieve a decent time in Paris. But it looks like we won’t find out about that.”
Sinabi ng pangulo ng Russian Swimming Federation, na si Vladimir Salnikov, na bahala na ang bawat swimmer na mag-apply para sa neutral status at hindi sila hahadlangan ng Russia.
Aniya, “We didn’t ban athletes from applying to get this status, it’s her personal business.”
Sa panuntunan ng International Olympic Committee, ang mga taga Russia na magko-compete bilang neutral athletes ay hindi papayagang i-display ang watawat ng kanilang bansa, maging ang emblem o patugtugin man ang kanilang national anthem.
Ang Paris Olympics ay tatakbo mula July 26 hanggang August 11.
