The International Olympic Committee has extended invitations to four Russian and Belarusian swimmers to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as neutral athletes.
Russian swimmer Evgenii Somov and Belarusian swimmers Alina Zmushka, Ilya Shymanovich, and Anastasiya Shkurdai are all listed as “eligible and invited athletes” with a Russian or Belarusian passport.
Russia and Belarus have been formally barred from the Olympic Games after the countries collaborated on a 2022 invasion of neighboring Ukraine that has so far caused hundreds of thousands of casualties.
Russia appealed the banishment to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but it was upheld not on the grounds of the CAS taking a stance on the war, but rather on the basis of Russia annexing Ukrainian sporting organizations, which it determined to be a violation of the Olympic Charter:
“An NOC can only exercise territorial jurisdiction within the limits of the boundary of an independent State recognised by the international community.
“It follows that, if the international community recognises the Regions as part of Ukraine, then the ROC’s decision to admit sports organisations from those regions as members violated the territorial integrity of the Ukrainian NOC, as protected by [Olympic Charter] Rule 28.5 and Rule 30.1.”
The IOC did offer an avenue for individual athletes (not teams) to participate in the Olympic Games, however, under the moniker of “Individual Neutral Athletes,” also referred to as “AINs” via the acronym for the same phrase in French.
The application of neutrality rules was largely left up to the sporting federations, and there were other athletes approved who ultimately were not chosen as qualifiers.
That includes US-based Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova, who did not hit an Olympic Qualifying Time, Belaursian swimmer Anastasiya Kuliashova, Belarusian swimmer Grigori Pekarski, and Belarusian swimmer Ruslan Skamaroshka.
They also approved neutrality for three Belarusian artistic swimmers, including one for so-called ‘High-Risk World Aquatics competitions’ like the Olympic Games: Vasilina Khandoshka. There are no solo events in synchronized swimming at the Olympic Games, though she would be eligible for the World Championships, for example.
No divers, water polo players, or artistic swimmers were approved and invited.
“The AIN quotas were determined on the field of play through the existing qualification competitions and the specific eligibility requirements of the International Federations (IFs),” the IOC said.
Among the requirements for athletes to participate as neutrals is signature of the same Conditions of Participation as all athletes competing at the Games, which “contains a commitment to respect the Olympic charter, including “the peace mission of the Olympic Movement.”
While the document has been described as a “declaration of neutrality,” it doesn’t mention Russia, Belarus, or the war in Ukraine specifically, and is signed by all athletes participating in the Olympic Games. The document also contains clauses requiring athletes to agree to social media guidelines, not manipulate competition, and follow anti-doping rules.
All four swimmers deemed eligible to compete by the IOC have hit Olympic Qualifying Times in the qualification period.
Evgenii Somov became a surprise contender in the men’s 100 breaststroke in May in Atlanta when he swam a Russian Record of 58.72 at the Atlanta Classic. He had previously never broken a minute in that race.
Anastasia Shkurdai won a bronze medal in the 200 back at the lightly-attended World Championships in 2024.
Ilya Shymanovich is the current World Record holder in the 100 breast in short course meters and has been as fast as 58.29 in long course. That swim was in 2019, though a 58.41 in April 2023 showed that he is still capable of fast swims as he approaches his 30th birthday.
Alina Zmushka is another breaststroker who in 2023 went a best time of 1:06.44 in the 100 and at Worlds this year swam 2:24.14 in the 200 breast in the semi-finals.
As of July 3, 43 athletes (27 Russian and 16 Belarusian) are still eligible for the Games, having been both invited and either accepting, or not yet declining, a spot in the Games.
| Russia | Belarus | |
| Road Cycling | 3 | 1 |
| Gymnastics – Trampoline | 1 | 2 |
| Taekwondo | 1 | 0 |
| Weightlifting | 0 | 2 |
| Wrestling | 9 | 1 |
| Rowing | 0 | 2 |
| Shooting | 0 | 2 |
| Tennis | 6 | 1 |
| Canoe | 2 | 2 |
| Judo | 4 | 0 |
| Swimming | 1 | 3 |
| Total | 27 | 16 |
14 invited athletes, including 6 of the 7 invited Belarusian wrestlers, declined their participation. It is unclear whether the athletes are receiving funding to attend the Games or not. Among the high profile athletes to decline a spot include Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka, a former World #1-ranked player and four-time Major Champion, in spite of speaking publicly against the war and Belarusian president Aleksandr Lukashenko. Earlier in her career, she had made political statements in support of Lukashenko, causing controversy at home.
Russian officials have repeatedly said in public that it is up to the athletes to decide if they want to participate in the Games.
Will Somov medal?
I really hope so. He coaches age group swimmers at a very small pool in the East Bay of California – it would be awesome for someone from a tiny program like Albany Aquatics to make the podium.
Kliment Kolesnikov please