The head of the Russian Ski Racing Federation (FLGR), Elena Vyalbe, criticized the behavior of Olympic champions Sergei Ustyugov and Alexander Bolshunov, who could not share the track
Photo: Alexander Bolshunov (global look press)
The judges, first of all, made a mistake, which led to a conflict between the two Olympic champions Sergei Ustyugov and Alexander Bolshunov. About this “Match TV” stated Head of the Russian Ski Racing Federation (FLGR) Elena Vyalbe.
“Still, in the first place, our judges did not work. They should have stopped all this at the first stage. Everything was quite mutual and did not even require any verbal warnings. Immediately solder both of them on a yellow card, and everyone would calm down, ”said Vyalbe, adding that at the beginning she missed this conflict situation.
On December 27, in the semi-final of the sprint at the Russian Cup stage in Krasnogorsk, Ustyugov and Bolshunov failed to divide ski track and fell. Bolshunov smashed his face and, presumably, received concussion. Both athletes withdrew from the next race. Later Bolshunov declaredthat Ustyugov deliberately provoked their clash. Ustyugov, in turn, notedthat he simply tried to act tougher compared to other races, and added that he was ready to apologize to Bolshunov.
The next day after the race, Vyalbe, assessing the conflict between the athletes, stated: “To be honest, two sheep met and just decided to play on each other’s nerves. It does not benefit anyone, neither their result, nor their health. At the same time, she did not name the culprit of the conflict.
Bolshunov and Ustyugov are Olympic champions. Bolshunov won the Games three times, and Ustyugov once.