After participating in the Beijing Olympics, several athletes are going through difficult times as a climate of tension exists following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
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Many athletes are back home, much to their relief, but several World Cup competitions continue, especially in Europe.
Quebec cross-country skier Cendrine Browne was in action on Saturday in Finland for the Lahti World Cup.
“I felt really tired at the start of the day, you still feel the jet lag from China,” she said in an interview with Sportcom. I found it difficult during the warm-up, but as you can see, anything can happen.
Focused on her results, Browne preferred to comment on her qualification for the quarter-finals in the sprint event. She made it into the top 30.
“I am really happy! It’s a very nice surprise,” she added.
Of course, Browne doesn’t live in a cave either. She knows very well what is happening in Ukraine, she also knows that Finland shares a border with Russia. In the world of cross-country skiing, it has also been announced that the World Cup which was to take place in Tyumen, Russia, from March 18-20, is now canceled.
Recall that the International Ski Federation (FIS) announced on Friday the cancellation of all its events planned on Russian soil by the end of the season. This also includes two freestyle skiing events, in jumps, which were to take place in Yoraslavl this weekend and in Moscow next Saturday.
In a report broadcast by the TVA network, in Sherbrooke, it was Quebecer Marion Thénault, winner of a bronze medal at the Beijing Games in the team event, who shared her concerns. If she has returned to Canada, the 21-year-old has a thought for some knowledge of the World Cup circuit.
“I have friends who are Europeans and I find it difficult to think that this is their reality, she noted, regarding the invasion of Ukraine. I also have friends who are in Russia at the moment and who have to leave the country. I’m worried about them, for real.”
In a new statement issued on Saturday, the FIS reiterated its support for the athletes, especially those from Ukraine.
“The safety and well-being of our athletes are always of the utmost importance to the FIS,” it was said, in a terse tone. We have informed the Ukrainian Ski Federation that FIS will provide immediate financial and logistical support to Ukrainian athletes and their teams until they can return home safely.”
At the Beijing Games, in the jumps event, remember that the Ukrainian Oleksander Abramenko won the silver medal. On the podium, Abramenko had also shared a hug with the Russian Ilia Burov, who finished third. Young Oleksander Okipniuk, 23, took ninth place in the men’s event. Among the women, Ukrainian Olga Polyuk was among the participants.