Tokyo Olympics: Belarus sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya lands in Poland for refuge

Name: Belarusian athlete to leave Tokyo for Poland with humanitarian visa after ‘forced flight’ claim
Uploaded: 2021-08-04T19:31:03.000Z
Duration: 3 min 10 s
Description: Belarusian athlete to leave Tokyo for Poland with humanitarian visa after ‘forced flight’ claim

In a last-minute twist, the athlete changed her route from Japan for ‘security reasons’, ditching her direct flight to Warsaw and arriving via Vienna instead

Tsimanouskaya says she fears for her life if forced to return home after dispute with her Tokyo Games team

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Belarusian athlete Krystsina Tsimanouskaya speaks with Austrian State Secretary Magnus Brunner during a stopover in Vienna on Wednesday, on her way to Poland from Japan. Photo: Federal Chancellory of Austria handout via EPA-EFE

Agence France-Presse

Published: 3:31am, 5 Aug 2021Updated: 4:03am, 5 Aug 2021

Belarusian Olympic sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya landed in Poland on Wednesday, where she is to take refuge after saying she feared for her life if forced to return home.

The 24-year-old sprinter has been at the centre of a diplomatic drama in the middle of the Games since seeking the protection of Tokyo 2020 staff on Sunday, saying her team was trying to bundle her onto a plane after she publicly criticised her coaches.

In an unexpected twist on Wednesday, the athlete made a last-minute switch and decided not to board her flight to Warsaw, which has offered her a humanitarian visa, instead taking a plane to the Austrian capital.

A VIP van followed by two police vehicles were waiting to escort Tsimanouskaya from the aircraft.

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Belarusian athlete to leave Tokyo for Poland with humanitarian visa after ‘forced flight’ claim

Images released by the Austrian chancellery showed her sporting a red face mask and being welcomed at the airport by government minister Magnus Brunner.