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A Russian tennis player wins Wimbledon
The irony — Wimbledon bans Russian athletes in an unprecedented and controversial move to punish Russia for the war in Ukraine. Controversial for the obvious questions: why should athletes be held responsible for Putin’s atrocities? What’s next — Russians not allowed in restaurants or public transport?
Technically Rybakina plays for Kazakstan but she’s Russian, no doubt.
I personally struggled with forming an opinion about Wimbledon banning Russian players. There are many layers to this situation and my assessment is complicated because I’m Russian (albeit in immigration), and my young daughter plays tennis. I abhor Putin but then I don’t want to act or sound like I now hate everything Russia related and use every opportunity to distance myself from Russia.
I wrote about it here:
In short, I understand Wimbledon’s decision more than I criticize it (but again I’m not sure). The risk of Medvedev (as one example, and it’s not improbable) lifting the championship trophy and thus elevating Russia — and so indirectly elevating Putin —could not be taken. I know it’s a twisted chain of assumptions and associations but there is no escape from it. It’s messy. It’s not fair. That’s what happens when there is a war —…
