German cross-country skiers protested against Russia on the Winter Paralympics podium by turning their backs on the Russian gold medallists.
Russia is competing under its national flag at the Paralympics for the first time since 2014 after the International Paralympic Committee lifted its suspension in September. The country had previously been banned because of a state-sponsored doping scandal and later faced sanctions after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The protest happened after Russia’s Anastasiia Bagiian and her guide Sergei Siniakin won gold in the women’s sprint classic vision-impaired event. As the Russian national anthem played, Germany’s silver medallists Linn Kazmaier and guide Florian Baumann turned their backs in protest.
Kazmaier said the medal ceremony felt strange and explained they did not turn toward the Russian flag because they do not support it.
Six Russian athletes and four from Belarus are competing at the Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics, and some countries, including Ukraine, boycotted the opening ceremony. The International Paralympic Committee said it is aware of the protest and is reviewing the situation.
