2024 WORLD AQUATIC CHAMPIONSHIPS
- February 11th – February 18th, 2024
- Doha, Qatar
- LCM (50m)
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- Day 1 Prelims Recap | Day 1 Finals Recap
- Day 2 Prelims Recap | Day 2 Finals Recap
- Day 3 Prelims Recap | Day 3 Finals Recap
- Day 4 Prelims Recap | Day 4 Finals Recap
- Day 5 Prelims Recap | Day 5 Finals Recap
- Day 6 Prelims Recap | Day 6 Finals Recap
- Day 7 Prelims Recap | Day 7 Finals Recap
- Day 8 Prelims Recap | Day 8 Finals Recap
Amid ramped-up security at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships, there has been thankful-little pall of the ongoing conflict between Israel and host-nation Qatar at this week’s World Championships hosted in the Qatari capital of Doha. While there has been a general awareness of the tension, and the small Israeli contingent has been accompanied by soldiers among other security measures, the issue has been relatively-dormant without any major incidents.
But the ongoing issues became more obvious in the last individual podium of the meet where Anastasia Gorbenko was interviewed by the on-deck announcer for winning a silver medal after finishing 4:37.36, which was .22 seconds behind the winner Freya Colbert of Great Britain. That was a historic moment for Israel as the country’s first-ever World Aquatics Championships medal in swimming and second-ever in any discipline.
The boos rained down during her interview from the Aspire Dome deck, casting a shadow over the closing moments of the championships, where Gorbenko said that she was “happy to represent Israel.”
SwimSwam’s Aglaia Pezzato, who is at the meet, says that gathered media was told that Gorbenko came through the interview area after completing the on-deck duties, but nobody saw that happen. They are now awaiting an expected-tension at the medals ceremony – which could have been even more intense if she had won gold and World Aquatics, meaning the Israeli national anthem.
Update:
There was a mixture of booing and cheering when Gorbenko was announced as the silver medalist after the conclusion of racing. The booing was not nearly as loud as during her interview. The boo’ing did not escalate until she was announced in English – there wasn’t audible booing during the announcement in Arabic.
The television broadcast sounded like only cheering – it’s unclear if applause was added to the broadcast, or if the booing was just not picked up by television cameras.
Extra security was provided for the medal ceremony and the victory walk and the crowd wasn’t allowed to come down as far as normal.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Vsqzq3xTvsk
Prior to that, the only signs of conflict were fairly-subtle, if you knew where to listen. There were allegations by Israeli media that the Arabic-language announcer did not say Daria Golovaty’s name or country during walkouts for the 200 backstroke, though the English language announcer did. SwimSwam has been unable to find video of that race to confirm the reports, which initially stated that Golovaty’s name and country were not read at all.
There was also some social media back-and-forth between Israeli open water swimmer Eden Girloanta, who previously trained in the United States at Southern Illinois University. Girloanta took exception with how some Arabic media had described her and her performance, though those posts were Instagram stories, meaning that they have since expired.
The current conflict between Israel and Qatar revolves around Qatar providing diplomatic office space in Doha to Hamas, the organization that sent gunmen into southern Israel on October 7, killing approximately 1,200 Israelis. That arrangement, brokered by the United States, has been criticized by the Israeli government. Doha played host to negotiations earlier in the war that led to the release of many, but not all, Israeli hostages.
Israel sent a small contingent of three pool swimmers to the World Championships. Besides Gorbenko and Golovaty, Denis Loktev also competed. Qatar had 5 athletes compete after having been granted extra slots for non-qualifiers by the World Aquatics bureau.
Booing could also clearly heared during the post-race interview of Hungarian television.
The reporter even mentioned the noise and nor him, neither the Hungarian swimmer understand its cause.
Booing starts at 00:26.
https://m4sport.hu/videok/kapas-boglarka-konnyeivel-kuszkodve-ertekelte-utolso-vilagbajnoki-dontojet
Peel away all the senseless drama, and what do you have? I guess there would be not much interest in bare technical excellence, time barriers, etc.
Fandom buries itself in minutiae and ends up losing all purpose and direction.
There is no good versus evil here, but apparently that’s what gets everyone out of bed in the morning.
Remarkably, these athletes are human, exceptional in their own right.
Nations are a poor investment. Just look at the record.
I really respected the interviewer for telling her not to worry about it. She’s been a top performer for many years.
I do understand that she is in an Arab country and Israel is not popular in the world right now. Doesnt make it right but look at where you are.
To be honest, if Russia is banned from competition then so should Israel. Israel are committing genocide and stealing Palestinian land. Why should athletes from such a nation be allowed to compete when Russia and Belarus is banned? I remember everyone booing russian athletes. Where was the support for those athletes when they were getting booed? I don’t agree with booing anyone but unfortunately it happens during competition – even if its unsportsman like. But the double standards the western folk have is ridiculous
At what swim meets were all Russian athletes booed? I recall Efimova being booed, but that was because she is a cheat, not because she is Russian – Have I missed something?
How many times do I need to write this? I don’t remember that 1400 Russians were kidnapped raped and murdered.
and lol – genocide and stealing Palestinian land. Throw some other buzz words please
Just because you write it does not mean it’s true.
What’s not true?
I agree – I found it pretty telling that Russian and Belorussian athletes had been banned and are now able to compete under a neutral flag only as long as they are not pro war, but Israel athletes can compete under the Israeli flag!? I know it’s not the athlete’s fault, but you can’t pick and choose which war is being condemned, especially when one clearly fits under the definition of genocide. I also can’t believe how little media coverage there has been about this lack of ban of Israeli athletes – not just for swimming but other sports that have had similar bans for Russians and Belorussians.
what’s the definition of genocide and what does Israel do?
Israel is defending itself from terrorists so that started a war with them on their soil.
Some of you need to research the following things:
The wars in both Gaza and Ukraine are really making me aware of just how much the internet distorts society. It really just doesn’t make that much sense that for example the average American on the street probably has very, very strong opinions on them and is probably ready to lecture you about it. It’s bizarre, obsessive, I’d even go as far as psychotic. Whatever phenomenon that is, it’s definitely closely intertwined with outrage culture and faux internet activism which usually never accomplishes anything at best and too often ends in irl mob justice. It’s honestly disturbing that whatever this is is what we now think political action is, mindlessly repeating garbage to a powerless audience until the next thing… Read more »
Or maybe it’s because the US is the number one country responsible for allowing Israel to do what it’s currently doing.
Sorta happening in our name! Not great!
So ignoring reality for a second, then what? I already know you have no real answer because your proposal itself completely ignored the actual parties involved in this whole mess so of course this wasn’t thought through. Because the truth is Israel v Palestine probably barely popped into your head at all before october 23 but now you’ve been online a bit since so you obviously know how to resolve a century of generational animosity and international tension.
There’s something so twisted in the irony of shouting about how much you care to all who’ll listen while somehow placing yourself in the middle of it. Such a distorted view of the world is exactly what I’m warning about.
Even if it only entered the consciousness of many, they can still learn about history and understand the oppression Palestinians have experienced at the hands of a U.S.-backed Israel.
I hate to break the news to you, but if the US withdrew support from Israel, it would not change anything. Israel did not have American military support for its first 20 years as a state. The Arab states would still be complacent in keeping Palestinian refugees, their leadership would still have infighting between the secular and religious extremists, and neither leadership would accept any borders or want the Jews living anywhere in the Middle East. They will continue to attack Israelis regardless of race and religion and cry crocodile tears, and Israel will fight back.
Steve, if you want to push your anti-Israel views, make sure you check your family medicine cabinet, and if you have any generic drugs… Read more »
“if you wanna be the beneficiary of our amazing R&D work, you better be on board with children getting sniped in front of hospitals”
They people living in Gaza are only oppressed by Hamas.
What is this hipster bullshit? “Oh hey you’ve just heard about this….genocide….now? Sorry, clearly you’re wrong then.”
And what did I propose? You asked why Americans might care, I said it’s because we’re enabling Israel. Didn’t propose anything.
People have been booing Russian athletes. Where is the concern for them?
what Russian athletes?
They have? Where? My 2nd favourite sport is ice hockey .There are Russians on almost every team..I haven’t heard a single boo.
https://www.reuters.com/sports/tennis/russian-kasatkina-feeling-bitter-after-being-booed-french-open-2023-06-05/
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/belarusian-tennis-player-booed-wimbledon-losing-ukrainian-rcna93364
https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/nhl-flames-fans-relentlessly-boo-alex-ovechkin-historic-night-143725929.html
https://www.newsweek.com/nhl-has-putin-problem-1684135
And incidentally in 2016 at the Olympics, but that’s probably unrelated to the war.: https://www.cnn.com/2016/08/08/sport/rio-olympics-russia-booed-lilly-king-yuliya-efimov/index.html
Goat
Russia was the original aggressor. Israel’s innocent civilians were attacked and Israel was defending itself. What would you want the US to do if your baby was kidnapped and hidden for FIVE months? Just forget about him? Come the f on
I just boo at people and federations that allow organized doping or cover up PED usage. I also don’t cheer for anyone who openly supports Putinism or terrorism.
In Moscow when Aaron Perisol broke the WR in the 200 Back scm 14,000 spectators LOUDLY booed him. It happens.