Tokyo Olympics: Belarus sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya says punishment awaited her back home
- Belarus athlete leaves Japan for refuge in Poland after row with team
- Sprinter at centre of diplomatic drama in middle of Olympic Games
Tsimanouskaya, a 24-year-old sprinter, has been granted a humanitarian visa by Poland after she refused to board a flight on Sunday and sought protection from Japanese police at Tokyo’s Haneda airport, saying she was being forced to return to Belarus for criticising her coach.
Team officials “made it clear that, upon return home, I would definitely face some form of punishment”, the 24-year-old sprinter told AP in a video call interview from Tokyo. “There were also thinly disguised hints that more would await me.”
She added that she believed she would be kicked off the national team. She hopes to be able to continue running once she has reached safety.
“I would very much like to continue my sporting career because I’m just 24, and I had plans for two more Olympics at least,” she said. But “for now, the only thing that concerns me is my safety.”
