The latest interview with World and Olympic Champion with Nikita Nagorny. He challenges the role of the IOC in the removal of Russian athletes from the Games and suggests that new structures for the perpetuation of international sport may be needed.
“The IOC MANAGEMENT SHOULD PRESERVE OLYMPISM AND NOT INTERFERE WITH POLITICS FOR PERSONAL GAIN.” INTERVIEW WITH NIKITA NAGORNY
Nikita Nagorny talks about the relationship between Russia and the IOC, as well as about his career in gymnastics and outside of sports.
Olympic champion in artistic gymnastics Nikita Nagorny, in an interview with Match TV, spoke about the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to allow Russians to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games, performances without a flag and anthem, the desire to have more competitions for gymnasts, the words of Umar Kremlev about Thomas’s departure Bach and Russia's rivalry with China and Japan.
— How do you evaluate the latest decision of the IOC on the admission of Russians and Belarusians in a neutral status? And will any of our athletes really make it to Paris, given the need to fulfill the admission criteria and undergo checks?
— For the last year I have not reacted at all to news related to the IOC. And this is almost my first comment in 2023. Everything is changing rapidly at the IOC: supposedly six months ago we were allowed somewhere, we just had to qualify through the federations, a month ago we had to sign some papers, two weeks ago they said that no one would compete anywhere, and now they announced admission to a neutral status under certain conditions.
The IOC leadership shows uncertainty in its actions. Perhaps there is pressure from outside. And now we see: there is no concrete decision on who will take part in the Games, only assumptions.
Our team will definitely not be able to get to the Olympic Games, because we were supposed to qualify for the World and European Championships this year, where we were not allowed. The World Cup stages are also almost over, there remains a small opportunity to compete for places in Paris next year, but there are almost no chances. If the IOC says it allows everyone, then more than 80% of the athletes will not be able to go because their qualifying tournaments have already been completed.
— Valentina Rodionenko said that the Russian team will not compete in the World Cups, where there was an opportunity to win Olympic licenses, until FIG changes the admission conditions...
— This is the head coach of our team, she has extensive experience in interacting with the international federation. The Russian women's and men's national teams are the current Olympic champions in team competitions, leaders in world gymnastics, and, of course, Valentina Aleksandrovna defends justice for our entire team. All this time we were forbidden to compete, to fight for a ticket to the 2024 Games, and now, when such a minimal opportunity has appeared, they are still trying to limit getting there as much as possible. So it is logical that our leader puts forward counter demands.
— Today Russia has only eight non-registered licenses... If you had the opportunity to perform at the Olympic Games, what would they say?
- Of course, I would go beyond Mother Russia and show them there! (Laughs).
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— Would it be difficult, being in the Olympic village, not to identify yourself with Russia?
— I would say hello to my family and friends, and write that everything is fine with me and I am preparing for quick victories. Most athletes turn off their phones during competitions and think only about their performance and how to win.
We have already competed at the Tokyo Games under the flag of the Russian Olympic Committee without our tricolor and anthem - we showed a very worthy result. There were also restrictions, but the whole team was united and supported each other.
— Have you decided for yourself how much longer you will compete? When will you tell yourself “stop”?
- I don’t know when this will happen. There are no thoughts about ending my career yet. Next year I will prepare for performances at the Friendship Games and the BRICS Games, and then we’ll see. Maybe there will be new competitions. We are working on this, perhaps doing gymnastics will become more interesting.
— Are you happy that such competitions will be organized for athletes?
- Certainly! It's better than nothing. For example, boxer Albert Batyrgaziev won the first ever professional IBA belt over the weekend. This happened in Dubai in front of a large number of fans and stars. On December 16 there will be a match tournament between Russia and the USA. Look at figure skating: there are cup after cup, show programs, and they also take part somewhere in the summer. The same is true in rhythmic gymnastics.
The question is for the athlete to continue to realize himself, work, strive and improve for something. My last start was in Sochi in September. The next one is most likely only in March - in the Russian Championship, then the BRICS Games in June, then the Russian Cup and the Friendship Games. Only four starts in a year!
We gymnasts do not have any significant competitions on a regular basis where Olympic champions, world and European champions would compete. It would be great to hold such starts at least once a month. It is clear that we are talking more about commercial starts.
The mood of classical sports suggests that previously there was an emphasis on Russian national teams at the Olympic Games, World and European Championships, and World Cups. Now the vector is shifting to domestic competitions. I would like the sport to develop even more actively within the country. The youth team in Kazan recently had a match against China, and I would like to see something similar among adults.
I have spoken more than once about the development of the club system; it should be in Russia too. We played in the Bundesliga for five years, the guys went to participate in the leagues of Italy and France, and played for local clubs as foreign players. This has existed in Europe for more than 20 years, the system is well developed. All this is built on a commercial basis: both athletes and clubs earn money, and gymnastics gets the opportunity to develop. I would like to see something like this in our country. This motivates me.
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— IBA head Umar Kremlev called on Thomas Bach to resign as IOC president. How do you feel about such words from a Russian functionary?
“A man organizes world-class tournaments, where all athletes are equal and there is no discrimination,” he can afford to say so. It’s great that high-level Russian sports officials boldly speak out about the leadership of the IOC; this gives confidence to athletes and representatives of other federations.
Russia makes a great contribution to the development of international sports. The IOC leadership should take this into account and preserve Olympism, and not mix it with politics for personal gain.
Doesn’t anyone in the world gymnastics community know that I come from Russia? Of course, everyone knows. As well as the fact that we took gold medals home. Our team comes to the Olympic Games and wins them. Ask the athletes: who is the champion? They won’t say that these are guys under neutral status, a team from the Russian Olympic Committee. They will answer: “Russia.”
— So should Bach head the IOC: yes or no?
“It’s not in my competence to decide such things.” I have nothing to do with the Olympic Committee. If you ask me whether Russian athletes should go to the Games under a neutral flag or stay at home, I will also say: the decision should come from the ROC, from the federations and coaches, that is, those people who will resolve all emerging issues that are not in athletes' competencies. But as an athlete, I can repeat what was said above: I don’t understand leaders who contradict themselves for two years and cannot make a final decision. Bach is a world leader in the sports community; many people support him today, but I still don’t see him uniting the world of sports.
I went to Turkey and met with one of the leaders of local gymnastics. He said that Turkey is waiting for the opportunity to speak with the Russians. He flew in from out of town to train and talk to me. I correspond with many athletes - they support us. The legendary San Sanych Karelin said well on this topic: “Russia and our sport are supported not only by friendly countries, but also by those who are not on this list.”
— You were part of the initiative group to nominate Vladimir Putin for the post of President of Russia. Could this have a negative impact on your international career?
— When they started to exclude us from competitions, everyone first of all began to write about the fact that I head the All-Russian children’s and youth military-patriotic public movement “Yunarmiya.” This movement was created by the Ministry of Defense on the initiative of the president; I became chief of the main staff in 2020 - even before the Olympic Games, where I won three medals. And in Tokyo everyone treated me very warmly and with respect. No one had any questions about my position; on the contrary, foreigners congratulated me and were interested.
Much of what the national teams have is thanks to the colossal support for sports from the president. As Svetlana Romashina said, we not only have the most athletic country, but also the most athletic president.
I also run the All-Russian Federation of Physical Sports. And I am pleased that in addition to supporting classical sports, this innovative direction is developing in Russia. Next year, by decree of the country's president, the Games of the Future will be held - this is the world's first multi-sport tournament, which includes 21 areas. Representatives of 100 countries sent applications for participation! I am sure that there will be a grand event that the whole world will talk about.
— Do you believe that Russian sport will return to the international family?
- Of course, 1000%! Yes, while we were performing, all major sports were focused on international competitions, and now many of them, with the exception of popular game sports, are in a difficult situation. On the other hand, in football, hockey, and basketball, our athletes compete in foreign leagues. In tennis, our guys travel all over the world, representing the country.
The main objectives of the IOC leadership have always been to keep sport out of politics; sport has been a unifying factor for the whole world for decades. Let's conduct a survey and vote among athletes from different countries: should Russia be excluded or take part in competitions on an equal basis with everyone? I am sure that Russian gymnasts would definitely perform at the World and European Championships.
Publicly, especially in Europe, where athletes are threatened with suspension if they come to compete at the Friendship Games, no one will talk about our support. But in personal conversations everything is different - people sympathize with us. And the IOC openly prohibits them from going to Russia... This is manipulation!
I am sure that both the Chinese and the Japanese would be happy to perform with us. We have an incredible historical struggle with them, which many in world gymnastics are now looking forward to. The competition would be the highest, like at the Olympic Games, like at the World Championships in Doha and Stuttgart. It was a real struggle between three countries, which was watched with admiration by millions of spectators.
— Before the Tokyo Olympics, the IOC changed its motto for the first time in history. The word “together” was added to “Faster, higher, stronger.” And where is this unifying slogan today?
- I would like to know.
Sergei Astakhov at Match TV Via Google Translate
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