Ukrainian gymnast expelled from national team for statements against Poland

Ukrainian gymnast Vlada Nikolchenko was excluded from the national team, confirms Suspilne.

Previously, Nikolchenko was the leader of the rhythmic gymnastics team, repeatedly earned medals, but in 2021 she did not qualify for the team, suspended her career and left for Israel.

In the summer of 2023, Vlada returned to Ukraine and again joined the national team. In early November, the athlete took gold in the all-around at the Warsaw Autumn 2023.

And most recently, Nikolchenko posted a post on Instagram, where she spoke rather inaccurately about Poland and the Poles.

“Spoiled my mood this morning. I hate this country with all my heart, and most of all, the people who live here. I’m here only because the airport was closed in my native Ukraine,” Nikolchenko wrote, referring to Poland.

The former general secretary of the Polish Gymnastics Federation, Piotr Dec, reacted to this. Then came the apologies. First, UFG vice-president Irina Blokhina apologized, and then Vlada herself, citing emotions.

A few days later, on November 24, Nikolchenko was excluded from the Ukrainian national team just six months after returning.

Earlier it was also reported that the Russians “resettled” the Ukrainian skier.

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