This fall, the President of the International Olympic Committee spoke about the return of Russian athletes to the international arena. We are still talking about a hypothetical future and the search for options for the rehabilitation of our team, but in many countries this prospect is already causing real horror.

Scandinavia hastened to speak out about the unacceptability of such steps. Following the Norwegian athletes, representatives of neighboring Sweden took the floor, threatening the world with a boycott. However, it seems that no one is going to listen to the northern skiers, especially in our federation.

Vyalbe could not restrain herself and firmly put the Swedes in their place.

Swedish boycott

In the midst of the off-season, many fans from all over the world admitted that without Russian athletes, international starts would turn into a Norwegian championship. This was especially true, of course, of the men’s team. In the case of women, the Swedes will most likely set the tone for the competition.

Maya Dahlqvist and Natalya Nepryaeva / Photo: © Matthias Hangst / Staff / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

However, current events are developing in such a way that neither one nor the other may not be at the World Championships in Planica. At least in words, Norway and Sweden bravely declare that they are ready to miss the main start of the season if our athletes are invited there.

Thus, the top three Swedish skiers, Frida Karlsson, Maya Dahlqvist and Lynn Swann, publicly announced their readiness to boycott the tournament in Slovenia:

– Here and now I can definitely say that I’m ready for this [к бойкоту — прим. SB]Swann says.

Three-time Beijing Olympic medalist Dahlquist supports Lynn:

Yeah, that’s exactly what I think most people are talking about right now. This is more than a sport. This is completely wrong. I don’t understand how the federation thinks when it thinks to invite the Russians. I see no reason to bring them.

The main loser of the Games in China, Frida Karlsson, speaks out more cautiously, apparently realizing that it is not in her power to decide something on this issue. But she did not deny her negative attitude towards the appearance of the Russians at the tournament in Planica.

Let’s do without them

Most likely, neither Sweden nor Norway will move from words to deeds. Nevertheless, the regular stuffing from the Scandinavians managed to get very tired of Russian specialists. Tired of restraining herself, Elena Vyalbe, the head of our federation, decided to answer her rivals:

– Yes, and do not care, let them boycott. They will lose the spectacle of the competition without us, and without them nothing will change,” Sport24 quotes the head of the FLGR.

It’s hard to argue with Vyalba’s words. Firstly, after the departure of Teresa Johaug, our Natalya Nepryaeva, the owner of the Big Crystal Globe last season, was to become the main prima of the world ski races. Secondly, the entire Russian team in the classical Olympic relay race in Beijing showed who sets the tone in this sport.

Natalia Nepryaeva / Photo: © RIA Novosti / Pavel Bednyakov

Of course, you should not completely write off the sprint queens Jonna Sundling and Maya Dahlquist. Short distances without these girls will get poorer. And Sundling, by potential, is ready to impose a fight on long races.

By the way, the 27-year-old Olympic champion has not yet spoken out about the boycott. It seems that they understand their capabilities and do not want to be scattered on political manifestos, preferring instead to systematically prepare for the new season. After all, if the Russians are allowed, then the chances of the Swede to get on the podium will drop significantly.