2025 World Championships
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On Wednesday evening, when “Neutral Athletes B” won the mixed 400 medley relay, they climbed the podium and, as is tradition, an anthem was played.
But because the athletes, who hail from the suspended Russian federation, are officially competing as neutrals, it was not the Russian anthem that was played. Instead, the World Aquatics anthem was blared through the arena in Singapore.
A large contingent of Russian and Belarusian swimmers are competing as neutral athletes at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships after Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. There have been several restrictions placed on them beyond not being able to officially represent their country.
The restrictions include not displaying or raising their national flag, wearing national uniforms and caps, and most prominently, not playing their national anthems.
When swimmers win gold in an event at a World Championship meet, their country’s national anthem is played, but in the case for neutral athletes, the World Aquatics anthem will be played instead.
World Aquatics, like most international governing bodies, has its own anthem. Little is known publicly about who wrote it and when.
Listen to the anthem below:
The anthem was on prominent display in December at the World Short Course Championships, which was Russia’s most significant presence at a World Aquatics event since the 2022 invasion and subsequent suspension. There, “Neutral Athletes B” won 6 gold medals: second only to the Americans (18).
No idea why there is such a thing as a relay, if it is just supposed to be individual athletes. Why even bother with this farce?
My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade
they aren’t neutral at all… this is the dumbest thing. just call them Russain
Play the Ukrainian National Anthem
The FINA anthem feels like a good 80s sitcom theme song
Why are Mexican athletes competing neutral? I swore I saw a Mexican athlete competing with the flag in prelims
They competed under neutral flag in 2024 but here they are under the Mexican flag. I think there’s some article out there of why they had to do that (probs corruption in the federation)
Sorry, dangling copypaste error. Mexico was neutral last year, but is not at this meet.
It would be cool if they could pick any song they wanted (other than there own national anthem)
Make Israel swim under a neutral flag, double standards are insane
Don’t start wars if you don’t want people to die. Palestinians have mastered the art of losing wars they started then playing the victim card.
You are ignorant.