The best part of this medal ceremony anyway is the Ukrainian coach putting on @NoNameFace 's crown
They shouldn't have to interact at all if they don't want to. And it's really not just about their own opinion. In an alternative universe where they had reciprocated the greeting, there's a not insignificant chance that their own federation or some Ukrainian media outlet would have shamed them.Poor show of sportsmanship at the ceremony. If the couple did not want to hug, a simple polite handshake would have sufficed.
Poor show of sportsmanship at the ceremony. If the couple did not want to hug, a simple polite handshake would have sufficed.
Going to make for some awkward possible future podiums at junior worlds/grand prix final. Or will this make it less awkward?.The Georgians caught on quickly.
Considering Sierova's social media posts I don't think that's true. It's clearly a big deal for her.The Ukrainians were very polite, if firm, about their refusal, neither pair involved in the situation here made a scene, so I don't see why we have to do it for them.
The social media post from Sierova explains why. And she clearly wants people to know.ETA : I rarely watch medal ceremonies. @Jumping_Bean mentions hugs were not given last year, that may explain a few more things.
I do not follow any of these four on social media, so I can only say that at the medal ceremony, the refusal was polite and just a small shake of the head.Considering Sierova's social media posts I don't think that's true.
But what is interesting is that Sierova/Khobta were never the gold medalists, so they were never in a position to not offer hugs, but always in a position to have to refuse the hugs if they were offered by the Aussies.The social media post from Sierova explains why. And she clearly wants people to know.
No doing it at all avoids the possibility that they might hug/shake hands with a russian person unwittingly ( more likely to happen in Pairs)
Many of those podiums last season included a russian girl skating for Australia.
They shouldn't have to interact at all if they don't want to. And it's really not just about their own opinion. In an alternative universe where they had reciprocated the greeting, there's a not insignificant chance that their own federation or some Ukrainian media outlet would have shamed them.
The Ukrainian seemed to glare at the Georgian for several seconds while they took their place on the podium. The locker room, the ice should be a safe space for all athletes. I would feel uncomfortable about the possibility of sabotage in this kind of toxic environment if allowed to fester.The interaction was also not a big deal. The Georgians caught on quickly.
Personally i think sportsmanship is something done while the sport is going on. Not at ceremonies.
And as for the judo thing... it's not required to shake hands so why should anyone get in trouble?
I can guess that for Junior athletes who had their first major events during and just after Covid years, the perception of some "norms" could be a bit different. There were restrictions and they didn't fully experience how was done before 2020.I do not follow any of these four on social media, so I can only say that at the medal ceremony, the refusal was polite and just a small shake of the head.
I've now seen the reposted story of how this is something to be proud of, and it doesn't differ from the standpoint shared by many other Ukrainian athletes, especially considering she was reposting her own skating federation. I've not seen the posts with slurs that she has supposedly liked, neither on Twitter nor on Instagram, so I can't say anything about that.
But what is interesting is that Sierova/Khobta were never the gold medalists, so they were never in a position to not offer hugs, but always in a position to have to refuse the hugs if they were offered by the Aussies.
The Aussies never offered them though, not even at the JGPF when the Ukrainians were not on the podium, so either there was some direction by the ISU/event organisers to not do hugs, or the Ukrainians had asked the Aussies to not hug them at their ceremonies and the Australians just decided to stick to that throughout the whole season. Or maybe the Australians were just more mindful of the political situation, in which case, kudos to them.
Makes me wonder what happened or didn't happen here for the Georgians to offer hugs. Maybe they thought it would paint them in a bad light if they didn't at least offer the hugs in the public eye? But nobody said anything about the lack of hugs last season, no?
Arab and/or Muslim athletes are routinely punished for refusing to compete against or acknowledge Israeli competitors. Persian athletes under pressure from their government to not compete against Israelis otherwise face punishment at home are routinely punished as well for snubbing Israeli athletes.
If the ISU isn't going to reprimand the Ukrainian pair for their lack of sportsmanship, disrespectful conduct, attempt to dehumanise the Georgian pair, then they need to do away with podium ceremonies entirely to avoid this grandstanding every time Ukrainians are on the podium.
We open a can of worms when we tolerate this kind of disrespect. There are transgender athletes now and some women take exception to this believing it is unfair. If an athlete does not want to acknowledge a transgender athlete, is this acceptable also? Something that governing bodies should shrug their shoulders at? Even Jess Owens was acknowledged in Berlin (although FDR refused to acknowledge Jesse Owens).
The Ukrainian seemed to glare at the Georgian for several seconds while they took their place on the podium. The locker room, the ice should be a safe space for all athletes. I would feel uncomfortable about the possibility of sabotage in this kind of toxic environment if allowed to fester.
No, sportsmanship extends to ceremonies. This is about basic manners, civility and respect anyway.
The Olympics would not be able to go ahead if all athletes in the world felt entitled to bully and disrespect other athletes over injustices committed by governments.
What's interesting is that we had tons of podium hugs in all of the other junior disciplines, but none in pairs whatsoever last season. Watching the other podium ceremonies, you wouldn't have known that the rules against hugs and handshakes were technically still in effect.I can guess that for Junior athletes who had their first major events during and just after Covid years, the perception of some "norms" could be a bit different. There were restrictions and they didn't fully experience how was done before 2020.
The 2022 ISU guidelines still had "No hand shaking or hugs between the medalists and / or award presenters are allowed." (even if some were already doing the hugs).
Now it is all back as it was including referee and technical controller extending the congratulations to the medallists.