Olympic Games 2024: Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, the Athlete Who Defies Autocrat Alexander Lukashenko

The French media outlet Le Monde has published a truly interesting article about Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, an Olympian and an AFF’s ambassador.

Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, a Belarusian-born sprinter, has become a symbol of resistance against the authoritarian regime of Alexander Lukashenko. After opposing her country’s wishes at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Tsimanouskaya faced severe backlash, which led her to seek asylum in Poland. Now, competing under the Polish flag, she is set to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Tsimanouskaya’s courageous stance and journey have garnered international attention and support. In 2021, she publicly criticized her coaches for mishandling her Olympic participation, which resulted in an immediate attempt by Belarusian authorities to force her return to Minsk. Seeking protection from Japanese police, she secured a humanitarian visa and eventually Polish citizenship in August 2022.

As a brilliant ambassador of the Athletes for Freedom Foundation, Krystsina Tsimanouskaya continues to inspire many with her resilience and determination. We wish her every success at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she will compete in her first «real» Olympic Games under the Polish eagle.

Here is the link to the full story.