The great Olympic champion was at the center of the scandal. She is threatened with severing all ties with Russia. Elena Isinbayeva renounced her past at home and the rank of major in the Russian army for a warm place in the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In Dagestan, they already intend to deprive the stadium of her name. Perhaps this is just the beginning.
From Monaco to Volgograd and back, Isinbayeva is a legend of Russian sports, the owner of many world records, and a two-time Olympic champion. From a sports point of view, there can be no questions for Elena. The athlete, after completing her career, initially promised to stay in Russia. Instead, Isinbaeva quietly and imperceptibly moved to live in Monaco. Then, however, she returned to her native Volgograd, citing her desire to spend more time with her family.
Less than two years later, Elena began to complain about living conditions. The ex-athlete again bought a ticket to Monaco. Later there was a chance to take a warm place in the IOC. Isinbayeva continued to visit Volgograd and other cities in Russia to participate in events, but she still spent most of her time abroad. A stay in Monte Carlo did not stop her from signing a five-year contract with the Russian army in 2015. The track and field athlete, by the way, holds the rank of Major of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
In the past few years, almost nothing has been known about Isinbayeva. She seemed to have evaporated. In July 2023, the Spanish media discovered Elena in the Canary Islands in Tenerife, where she probably moved to live from Monaco. The Spaniards published a strange article, where they accused her of supporting Russia's actions in Ukraine, they even said that she was engaged in «subversive activities».
Bewilderment from the words of the championThere was bewilderment from such materials. After all, Isinabayeva did not say anything either in support of the NWO or against it. She did not make any statements on this topic at all. And yet, rumors about the life of the two-time Olympic champion reached her. This led to a statement by Isinbayeva on social networks.
“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 are being talked about today are nominal, since I am not and have never been in the service of the Russian Armed Forces,” the athlete emphasized.
The situation turned upside down in an instant. Isinbayeva again made everyone wonder. Calling the rank of Major nominal was a bold and not too deliberate step, with all due respect to the great athlete. And the phrase about the lack of experience in serving in the Russian Armed Forces looks like an outright lie, which can be verified with one click. It is strange that such a titled and respected champion did not think about it. Or did she do it on purpose? Realizing that he will no longer return to Russia?
The second option is plausible. And that's why. Isinbayeva called herself a «man of the world.» A clear hint that the former athlete no longer has a relationship with her native country. The situation became clearer after the IOC statement for. The commission of the organization came to the conclusion that the two-time Olympic champion in pole vaulting did not have a contract with the Russian army or law enforcement agencies and did not support the SVO.
““The IOC Commission on Ethics came to the conclusion that in the period from February 24, 2022 onwards, Ms. Isinbayeva had no contractual ties with the Russian army or law enforcement agencies and did not support a special military operation (the wording was changed in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation — ed.) in Ukraine,” the IOC said.
Farewell, Russia? Most likely, from September of this year, Elena will continue to work in the organization and retain a comfortable place. The puzzle came together completely. Only now her statements look even more unreasonable. Isinbayeva has predictably received a ton of criticism in Russia. It got to the point that the stadium named after her in the center of Makhachkala in her father's homeland is threatened to be renamed, as the head of the Republic Sergey Melikov has already stated.
“Yes, this is a talented athlete who has set more than one world record, but she has never connected her life, her past and future with Dagestan. I instruct the Ministry of Sports of Dagestan and the Mayor of Makhachkala to organize this work,» Melikov wrote in his Telegram channel.
Perhaps this is only the beginning of breaking ties with Russia. It is unfortunate that a great athlete did this. She was admired by millions of people in Russia, her victories will forever remain in the history of our sport. But it’s hard to call Isinbayeva’s actions otherwise than a betrayal. And the worst thing is that it was done so straightforwardly and clumsily.
The opinion of the author may not coincide with the position of the editors.