Anastasia Davydova (39), who is one of the most medal-winning synchronized swimming specialists in history, reportedly informed her swimming center on Monday of her departure from Russia, "
without any plans to return
", and "
without naming the reasons for his decision
.
The one who won five Olympic titles between the Olympic Games in Athens 2004 and those in London 2012 as well as thirteen gold medals at the world championships is the first major figure in sport to go into exile outside of Russia since the start of the invasion of Ukraine.
Since retiring, she has been Secretary General of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC).
The ROC has not confirmed his departure.
Could this first defection trigger others?
"
From the point of view of the ROC, we consider that service to the fatherland is an honorable duty, the honorable duty of every citizen, including members of national teams
," said former fencer Stanislav Pozdnyakov, president of the ROC. , a few days after the announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin of a new mobilization in Ukraine.
In any case, the official declarations do not reveal anything.
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