Beijing, February 18, Semyon Galkevich. Head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach admitted that he was shocked by the performance of the Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing.
"I was alarmed, shocked when I saw her performance on television. The pressure she's faced is incredible. I was an athlete, I know what pressure is. But this pressure is beyond my understanding, and she is 15 years old",” he said at a press conference.
The head of the IOC noted Valieva’s desire to finish the performance, despite all the circumstances. «Her body language said that this was incredible mental stress. She would have liked to leave, probably forget this story, but she finished her performance,» he added. Bach also said that the IOC was against Valieva's continued participation in the Games after as it became known about her positive doping test, however, he urged to respect the decision of the court, which allowed the Russian woman to perform.