Since the beginning of 2022, according to unofficial data, more than 200 Russian athletes have changed their citizenship. The main flow occurred in 2022 and 2023. Many Russian athletes have undergone the procedure of changing citizenship in order to compete at international competitions. In 2024, the number of athletes wishing to change countries has dropped sharply. However, they were still there.

Which athletes changed their citizenship in 2024

Alexander Komarov, Greco-Roman wrestler

One of the first such athletes this year was Greco-Roman wrestler Alexander Komarov. Now he plays for the Serbian national team. He was inclined to this decision largely because of his marriage to Serbian Nevena Vulovic. Alexander moved to his wife’s hometown of Kragujevac, where he began training.

– I am very happy and satisfied. When I met Nevena in 2021, we decided to live in Serbia. I thought a lot about becoming a member of the Serbian national team. Serbia is my new sporting chance,” Komarov told reporters.

Alexander Komarov / Photo: © Kadir Caliskan – United World Wrestling / Contributor / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

Komarov’s first success for the Serbian national team did not have to wait long. Already in February, at the European Championships in Bucharest, he won a gold medal. In 2019 and 2020, Komarov won bronze medals, playing for the Russian national team. Two months after the European Championships, the athlete won a license for Serbia for the Olympic Games in Paris in the weight category up to 87 kg.

Makhmadbek Makhmadbekov, judoka

In July, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed only four Russian judokas to compete in the Paris Olympics, although Russia had 12 quotas. In response to this, the Russian Judo Federation announced that the athletes would refuse to participate, considering the conditions humiliating. The IOC previously claimed that Makhmadbekov agreed to accept the invitation to the Olympics, but subsequently refused to participate. On August 31, Makhmadbek announced his transfer to the UAE national team.

— It was very difficult for me to leave the national team, I grew up in it, my journey began at the age of 15 in the youth, and for nine whole years I represented Russia on the international stage. I still love this country, I have all my close friends there, I am grateful to every coach of the national team and the Russian Judo Federation, they are all people with a capital letter. But if I wanted to achieve the results I was striving for, I had to do it,” Makhmadbekov wrote on the social network.

Makhmadbek Makhmadbekov / Photo: © Dmitry Chelyapin / Match TV

The Russian Judo Federation criticized the athlete’s decision and stated that Makhmadbekov was too hasty in changing countries. However, already in October, the judoka won his first gold medal at the Grand Slam tournament in Abu Dhabi. As for his brother Somon, who plays for the Tajikistan national team, he won a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris in the up to 81 kg weight category and dedicated it to Mahmadbek.

Chermen Valiev, freestyle wrestler

Chermen Valiev’s decision became known from the protocols of the United World of Wrestling before the European Championships, which took place in Romania. There, the freestyle wrestler was presented as an athlete from Albania. The 26-year-old Russian freestyle wrestling champion certainly does not regret the decision. At the Olympics in the capital of France, he won a bronze medal.

Chermen Valiev / Photo: © Kadir Caliskan – United World Wrestling / Contributor / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

Alexander Shevchenko, tennis player

Alexander Shevchenko announced his transfer to the Kazakhstan national team after the Australian Open. During this year, he reached the second round of Roland Garros and the US Open, which was success for him. At the 2024 Olympics, the tennis player failed to reach the second round of the competition, but he reached the third round of the Masters in Shanghai.

Alexander Shevchenko / Photo: © Jamie Squire / Staff / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru