Averina’s sisters ended their careers due to refusal to perform under the white flag – Kommersant

World champions in rhythmic gymnastics, Russians Dina and Arina Averina, ended their sports career due to their reluctance to perform under a neutral flag. This was announced by the President of the All-Russian Federation of Rhythmic Gymnastics Irina Viner.

“At the championship (Russia.— “Ъ”) there was a serious battle between our new stars. They have matured and are now competing with each other in the absence of Dina and Arina Averin, who will no longer participate in competitions. They ended their sports career because we refused to participate in the Olympic Games under the white flag. This was the general decision of the coaching council and the athletes, who are accustomed to performing when the Russian national flag is raised in honor of their victories. Now our attention is directed to internal starts,” Ms. Wiener quotes press service Russian Olympic Committee.

On December 8, 2023, the International Olympic Committee allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete. They will be able to participate in a neutral status and only in individual competitions, taking into account the ban on any national symbols. Athletes will also be required to undergo additional doping testing, sign a declaration of respect for the Olympic Charter and not support the CBO.

After the publication of the IOC criteria, Irina Viner called participation in the Games in a neutral status a disgrace. She stated that the Russian rhythmic gymnastics team will not travel under such conditions. On February 23, it became known that Dina and Arina Averina had completed their sports careers.

Read more about the reaction of Russian sports to the IOC decision in the material “My own game”.

Alexandra Goroshilova