Arr, these Olympic swordsmen, who turned tail from Mother Russia's battle, be seekin' American citizenship to avoid the scurvy war!
2024-01-12
Arr, mateys! Them Russian Olympians, fearin' the wrath o' the Ukraine invasion, be scramblin' for 'Merican citizenship to partake in the grand Summer Games in Paris. Aye, they be sailin' to new waters, hopin' to find gold 'n glory!
A group of Russian Olympians who have fled their country in response to the invasion of Ukraine are hoping to compete on behalf of the United States in the upcoming games. Three fencers, Konstantin Lokhanov, Sergei Bida, and Violetta Bida, are being supported in their bid for U.S. citizenship by the U.S. Olympic Committee and the nation's fencing association. They have made great sacrifices and put their lives at risk to represent the United States, according to CEO of U.S. Fencing Phil Andrews. The main obstacle the fencers face is obtaining citizenship before the 2024 Paris Olympics begin on July 24. Andrews emphasizes the urgency, as Olympic selection is highly competitive, and citizenship is necessary to be considered through the ranking system used to determine Team USA. Sergei Bida and Violetta Bida are a newlywed couple expecting their first child this year, although Violetta will not be able to compete in Paris due to her pregnancy. Lokhanov, on the other hand, was previously married to the daughter of the president of Russia's Olympic Committee, but they divorced after he decided to flee Russia and she refused to join him. The Russian Olympians' legal team, led by former Olympic fencer Jack Wiener, is contacting U.S. representatives and senators in hopes of gaining support for a bill that would grant them citizenship. Wiener is handling the case pro bono.