Two-time Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva reacted to Spanish media reports about her move to Spain and ties with the Russian Armed Forces. The Sport observer analyzes the words of the famous athlete.
After not being admitted to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Isinbayeva ended her career and retrained as a sports functionary. She was elected to the Commission of Athletes of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), then she took the position of Chairman of the Supervisory Board of RUSADA, and also put forward her candidacy for the post of President of the All-Russian Federation of Athletics (ARAF).
As a result, under pressure from WADA, she had to leave RUSADA, and she withdrew from the elections to the VFLA. Then there was an attempt to head the commission of IOC athletes and a defeat from Finns Emma Terho. After the start of a special military operation, the champion disappeared from the radar. Isinbayeva remained silent for a year and a half. And here's a fresh statement — begins with an appeal to those «who are interested in the truth.»
“In Russia, as in any other country in Europe, every athlete belongs to one or another sports club. Until 2018, I played for CSKA and was awarded high awards and titles for outstanding sporting achievements. Those titles that they talk about today are nominal, since I am not and never served in the Russian Armed Forces,” the athlete emphasized. In May 2015, CSKA released an official announcement: «Isinbayeva signed a contract to serve in the Russian army.»
«»The order to conclude a contract for a period of five years was signed by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. By the same order, Captain Isinbayeva was appointed to the military position of an instructor in athletics at the Central Sports Club of the Army,» the statement says. Military position — yes. There is a contract signed for five years. No service in the Armed Forces. Very, very strange.
A year later, Isinbayeva visited the Khmeimim airbase in Syria, and the day before, she received a medal «For Strengthening the Military Commonwealth» from the hands of the Minister of Defense. Now, the two-time Olympic champion renounces communication with the Armed Forces.
By the way, Isinbayeva signed her first contract back in 2003, joining the ranks of the sports club of the railway troops. In 2004, she received the rank of senior warrant officer, then junior lieutenant, lieutenant, senior lieutenant, and in 2008 — the rank of captain. Simultaneously with the assignment of the title of senior warrant officer, the athlete was awarded the medal «For Valor» of the 1st degree.
«»I became an ensign of the railway troops a year and a half ago. As you can see, I am slowly moving up in the service. This is also good. Now I will receive 120 rubles more,» she said in 2004 in an interview, commenting on the award received in the now non-existent service for her in the ranks of the Russian Armed Forces.
Only facts and nothing more. For those «who are interested in the truth».
“Perform so that the whole world shudders and so that the anthem of the Russian Federation sounds without ceasing in the sports arenas in Rio. God bless,” these are the words of Yelena Isinbayeva, uttered in the Kremlin with tears in her eyes before the 2016 Olympic Games. Now Elena, as it turned out, is, first of all, not a citizen of the Russian Federation, but, as she emphasizes, «a man of the world.» «I live where I work, I eat what I love, I communicate with those whom I value and respect,» Isinbayeva explained.
If you carefully analyze her letter, then the main thing in it is still not a renunciation of the Russian army and not even a declaration of himself as a «man of the world.» In the second part, Isinbayeva unexpectedly announced: «Today I can happily announce that as early as September 2023 I will resume international activities in the IOC.»
Apparently, it was precisely for the sake of returning to duties in the IOC that the Russian athlete appeared in the information light for the first time after the start of a special military operation. And she needed the aforementioned «temporary pause in work» just to prove to Western officials that she was not involved in what is happening on the political front.
And now, for no apparent reason, the world media, at the suggestion of their Spanish colleagues, recall its existence and ties with the Russian Armed Forces. The job of «whitewashing» the name suddenly came under threat in the weeks before returning to work at the IOC. What was Isinbayeva to do? Of course, to take urgent measures, namely, to make a statement. To voice the arguments on which, most likely, her new image was built before the leaders of the world Olympic movement.
Rereading the statement of the Olympic champion, I want to get into her head and read between the lines. Unfortunately, Isinbayeva operates exclusively with facts, without disclosing the causal relationship. And this gives rich ground for the whole world to think for the athlete. As a result, even more questions remain.
It is likely that she did not at all set herself the task of explaining and proving something to someone. And just tried to strengthen the reputation shaken before the IOC, the creation of which took a lot of time and effort.
The opinion of the author may not coincide with the position of the editors.