MOSCOW, Mar 24 German glove brand breaks off partnership with Russian skier Alexander Bolshunov, reports VG. The brand also had an agreement with the Russian Ski Racing Federation (FLGR) and several biathletes. Cooperation agreements were terminated due to a Russian special operation in Ukraine. The same sanctions from the brand also affected Belarusian athletes. Bolshunov, who won 5 medals at the Beijing Olympics, including three gold medals, was considered one of the main stars of the brand along with the Norwegian biathletes Johannes Boe and Marte Olsbu-Røiseland. At the moment, all Russian athletes have been removed from the brand's website. According to a source, brand marketing manager Helmut Hanus said that he was disappointed when he saw Bolshunov and other athletes at a concert that took place on March 18 at Luzhniki in honor of the Crimean Reunification Day with Russia. He noted that the possibility of resuming cooperation with the Russians is unlikely. Earlier, foreign suppliers of equipment and skis stopped cooperating with Russian skiers.
