The Russians were furious. Their great talent wants to represent Poland. Big scandal

In the fall of 2023, the young Russian skateboarder Vladimir Semirunni informed the Russian Skating Association that he intended to change his citizenship to Polish and compete under the white and red flag. The 20-year-old argued this, among other things: the need for international starts. As it turns out, the Russians do not intend to give the player back so easily and have just been informed about a rather severe penalty being imposed on him.

– I have just started to succeed in senior sports . It’s time to take the most important step in your development as an athlete , and for this you need international competitions. I have reported to the Russian Skating Association my desire to change my sports citizenship and take part in the Polish national team – said in the fall Vladimir Semirunniy, who, despite his young age, has already had several successes. His achievements include, among others: bronze medal in the Junior World Championships and silver medal in the classic all-around.

Vladimir Semirunniy punished! The Russians treated the 20-year-old severely

A few months after the declaration of willingness to change citizenship, the response from the Russian Federation came. The Russian media reported that the union did not intend to forgive the 20-year-old and decided to impose the longest possible grace period on him. This is to last 24 months, but the federation has the option of reducing it by half. However, if this did not happen, Semirunnij will be able to represent our country in the fall of 2025 at the earliest (the grace period is counted from the moment of submitting the request to change citizenship, not the decision – in this case, from the fall of 2023).

Fortunately, the decision of the Russian federation does not ruin the Olympic plans and dreams of the 20-year-old. The grace period will end a few months before the Games, which means that he will have a chance to fight for Olympic qualification for the competition in Milan.

The departure of the skater from Russia caused a stir in the local media. Journalists spoke unscrupulously about the 20-year-old. “His departure to the Polish national team was scandalous. Vladimir was the hope of the national team and a very great talent,” we read on sport-expressu.ru. “Of course, his transfer to the Polish national team was not met with great joy in the Russian Skating Association. No one doubted that although, according to the regulations of the International Skating Union (ISU), the grace period could last only one year, Semirunniy would be suspended from international competitions without any relief for 24 months,” it added.

Semirunnij is the future of speed skating. The speedster born in 2003, in addition to the Junior World Championship medal, also won the Russian championship in 2022. His best times at individual distances already qualify for Polish records. He has a great future ahead of him.

Is the grace period imposed on Semirunnij justified?