08.13.2021

Exiled Olympian on the State of Affairs in Belarus

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BIANNA GOLODRYGA: Krystsina, thank you so much for joining us. My first question is, how are you doing now that you are in Poland for a week?

KRYSTSINA TSIMANOUSKAYA, BELARUSIAN OLYMPIAN: So, yes, I think, yes, I am OK. I’m here in Poland with my husband. We live in some house with — which one is really safety for us. And we have some security, some border guard, I think. And we feel like really safe here in Poland.

GOLODRYGA: Can you tell us what happened in Tokyo after you posted that video on Instagram?

TSIMANOUSKAYA: Yes. First, what happened, that I saw in TV or in Belarusian Russian TV that they are talking about me. They show my video from Instagram and talking that I have some mental problems and I’m a really bad sportsman. And then two coaches from our teams, they come to me, to my room and says that I should — should to be able to come back to home, and no running for me more at the Olympic Games. And that was not their decision. That was decision from some someone from Minsk. And they just showed to do it, and that is all.

GOLODRYGA: And this happened after they came to you and surprised you by telling you that you were going to run in and compete in the four-by-four relay. That is not your area. And one can understand why you were upset after that. Why did you decide to record that conversation? You were crying. You were very upset. Why was it important for you to record it?

TSIMANOUSKAYA: So I saw in my profile that I have 100, 200 and relays. And no one don’t ask me if I want to run relays or not. So, I never run 400 meters in my sport career, never. And I don’t — I don’t know how to run this distance. For me, it’s too much. And I was surprised, because never — never, no one don’t talk with me or with my coach. And when I try to ask them, I sent a message to them if it’s true or not, they don’t ask me a few hours. And then I decide to speak about this situation in my Instagram. But I was surprised what happened next in the few days. It was shock for me.

About This Episode EXPAND

Activist Pashtana Durrani describes the situation on the ground in Afghanistan. Fmr. British MP Rory Stewart reacts to America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. Exiled Belarusian Olympian Kristina Timanovskaya discusses the dire state of affairs in the country. Jaime Lowe and a formerly incarcerated firefighter discuss the realities of fighting California’s wildfires as an inmate.

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