President of the All-Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation (VFCG) and chief The coach of the Russian national team, Irina Viner, nevertheless filed an appeal against the decision of her Western colleagues to suspend her for two years. Should we expect any easing in this matter during the period of sanctions pressure on Russian sports? And is there any practical sense in endless litigation?
Let us briefly recall what the essence of the Wiener case is. At the Tokyo Olympics, the Russian rhythmic gymnastics team for the first time since 1996 was left without gold medals, which was partly the result of not the most qualified refereeing. Russian Natalya Kuzmina was the chairman of the technical committee of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), and she became the object of criticism from a number of officials, experts and, of course, ordinary fans. Wiener did not stand aside either, emphasizing unprofessional arbitration as one of the reasons for the failures of Russian «artists».
In the fall of 2021, Kuzmina, as usual, had to go through an ordinary selection/non-selection procedure to the FIG technical committee. However, the Russian side took a principled position and did not allow her to participate in the elections. As a result, Kuzmina was replaced by the representative of Egypt Noha Abu Shabana, while the Russian woman became the honorary vice-president of FIG. It seems that everyone was satisfied: the WFHG achieved Kuzmina's resignation from her position, the same one, in turn, received a warm place in the federation and the status of a «victim of a hate».
But not everything is so simple. Back in November 2021, President of the Artistic Gymnastics Federation of Russia (FSGR) Vasily Titov warned that this case would drag on. «This story cannot be considered closed, this story is not simple. The case has not yet been considered by a panel of arbitrators on the merits. Yesterday, only interim measures were considered, which they managed to cancel and, as a result, remove her (Kuzmin) from the elections. But in essence, her claims to the Russian art gymnastics remain,» he said.As a result, Kuzmina achieved a judicial review and was able to prove that the post-Olympic criticism from Wiener caused her moral harm and hindered the development of her career. The court sided with the ex-head of the technical committee and punished the president of the WFHG with two years of suspension. Wiener herself was reserved and philosophical about this turn of events: «I believe that rhythmic gymnastics in Russia has only become stronger thanks to the sanctions. And it will be even stronger.»
Of course, it is hard to imagine holding major international competitions and events in rhythmic gymnastics without such a major figure as Wiener. It was Irina Alexandrovna who was at the origin of many important decisions, became the creator of a unique methodology for training gymnasts, always advocated the exchange of experience, thanks to which the competition in this form has steadily grown. It is hard to understand what will give rhythmic gymnastics her removal. Others will understand that it is wrong to criticize judges for poor performance? But what if they really do not do their job well enough? Did Wiener take advantage of the situation and actually oust Kuzmina from her familiar place simply because she is a «bad Russian»? If a person does not fulfill his functions, it is customary to change him. And in general, what is there to talk about if Russian functionaries were ousted from almost all more or less significant posts in international sports federations and organizations? What, for example, did Pavel Bure do bad for hockey, because of which he is not even invited to the IIHF council?
The wind of change has swept through all areas, but the main thing is that it does not turn into a hurricane. It will not be loud words and exaggeration that the Olympic movement is now under threat and under great pressure from outside. And now rhythmic gymnastics, like any other sport, needs consolidation and the development of a plan that will allow it to develop further, not to regress. How it can develop without Wiener and Russia is not entirely clear. Sanctions for the sake of sanctions are not a blessing, especially in such a popular but relatively local sport. Yes, while the position of rhythmic gymnastics is strong, but if the number of scandals increases instead of progress, the question of its exclusion from the Olympics program may well arise. Olympic Committee (IOC). If protective measures are lifted tomorrow, which consist in preventing Russian athletes from participating in international competitions due to the situation in Ukraine, then sanctions against Viner will automatically come into force. But against the backdrop of the «thaw» the FIG may well reconsider its decision, because the Olympics in Paris are ahead, where the vast experience of the head of the WFHG will be needed. And in general, the two-year term in this case seems abnormally long and, to put it mildly, not entirely fair. After all, the ability to criticize is one of the options of democracy, isn't it?