Olga Zaitseva has won several gold medals in biathlon for Russia. The former world-class athlete has been a supporter of President Vladimir Putin, advocates conscripting top athletes for the war and would even take up arms herself.

Former Russian biathlete Olga Zaitseva supports her country’s war in Ukraine and would take part as a soldier herself. She told the state newspaper “Izvestia”. When asked whether the partial mobilization of Russian forces should also affect all athletes, she said: “My first thought was: Call everyone! I’m ready to go. Because I know how to shoot. We are obliged to our Paying a debt to our fatherland. […] I wouldn’t hide.”

For her country’s sports associations, she even sees advantages in the annexation of Ukrainian territories, which President Vladimir Putin has carried out. After the “situation has calmed down a bit” and “people can live in peace”, Russian sport will benefit from this in the eyes of the former biathlete. “The number of regions has increased, so the number of Russian athletes has also increased. They are with us now. And we will work with them, as we did in Crimea after 2014. The competition is growing and as a result, ours are growing too Athletes,” commented the two-time Olympic champion and ex-biathlete who was later convicted of doping.

Russia is currently excluded from the competitions by the Biathlon World Association IBU. But that, too, is no cause for concern, according to Zaitseva. The multiple ex-world champion and Olympic champion told “Izvestia” that her compatriots will learn from this experience and come out stronger. “I believe that our athletes will be even hungrier before the international races. […] They have to develop some anger, sporting anger. And then they have to go out and show everyone how cool we are. Always,” said Zaitseva , who, according to her own statement, had had no contact with the biathlon scene outside of Russia since the beginning of the war.

“I know how some have reacted, but I don’t want to talk about that. I support my country and my president. […] I have the impression that many athletes support us,” said the Russian, who misled the foreign media reporting on the war in Ukraine. That’s why she doesn’t care too much: “I only read reliable sources. Many, on the other hand, are influenced by the global media campaign [against Russia]. I hope that sooner or later people will open their eyes and things will then open up for them get clear.”

(This article was first published on Wednesday, October 26, 2022.)