Sergei and Violeta Bida, who represented Russia within the Olympics, made the choice to denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine and transfer to America, realizing that they may by no means be capable to return to Moscow.
Now, Russia has issued warrants for his or her arrest, making them wished people.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the couple, who had been fencers, competed for Russia within the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Sergey acquired the Medal of Patriotism from Russian President Vladimir Putin after successful the Olympic silver medal. However, in early 2023, they determined to get married and relocate from Russia to America.
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Upon arriving in America, they hoped to take part within the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris below the American flag. However, they had been requested by the American Fencing Federation to signal a letter condemning Russia’s actions in Ukraine. This determination led to them with the ability to compete in American fencing competitions but in addition made them refugees.
Just a few weeks later, their names appeared on a listing of wished criminals printed by Russia’s state-run Tass information company, solidifying their plans to remain in America.
30-year-old Sergey expressed feeling extra free in America, stating, “I really feel extra free right here. I breathe extra freely.”
Sergey and Violeta, together with one other fencer named Konstantin Lukhanov, who secretly moved to California in 2022, are among the many few Russian athletes who’ve taken a agency stand towards Russia’s actions.
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Their lawyer believes the costs towards them are associated to their membership within the Russian military and nationwide guard, for which most Russian athletes obtain funding. Unlike Sergey and Violeta, no costs have been introduced for Lukhanov.
Sergey and Konstantin nonetheless hope to take part within the Paris Olympics, though the trail ahead is unclear. However, 29-year-old Violeta, who’s pregnant, needed to skip the Olympics.
Lukhanov, who had gone to Germany for hip surgical procedure in February 2022, determined to not return to Russia upon seeing the information of Russian forces speeding to the border of Crimea. He publicly expressed his opposition to the warfare in December 2022.
Sergei and Violetta, who had at all times dreamed of competing within the Olympics, didn’t anticipate their lives to alter on this approach. Their love story began on the Tokyo Olympics, and so they bought married in February 2023 earlier than leaving Russia for America.
Sergei and Violeta’s ardour for fencing has not waned, as Sergei participated within the US National Fencing Championships final summer season after signing an anti-war declaration.
As the Paris Olympics strategy, Sergei is keen to return to the fencing area and make his new house nation proud.
He says, “Sports just isn’t enjoyable for us. Sport is life itself.”