SKØYEN / OSLO (Dagbladet): Last week there were more Russians cross-country skier and biathlete was promoted militarily by the Minister of Defense of Russia Sergei Shoigu.

The honor was for athletes who participated in the “Army center sports club” – CSKA.

Among them is biathlete Eduard Latypov who won three Olympic bronze medals during the Olympics. He was also beaten by the Norwegian Anchor, Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen, in the men’s relay.

Since then, the world has changed. Russia has invaded Ukraine. At the same time, Russia continues to award athletes with military awards for their achievements during the Olympics.

This award has been a tradition in Russia for several years. A tradition that is basically special for us Norwegians, says Sjåstad Christiansen.

– The fact that he (Latypov) received a military award is very special for us. In Russia, the military and sport are closely related, he said.

He was supported by his teammate Tarjei B, who pointed out that this tradition has been going on for years, but is only now being seen by the public.

– So maybe it’s not about the war, like that. But now it will be very special. Had I been them, I would probably have delayed marking until the war was over. For now it would be very symbolic and very wrong, I think.

Russia Exception: – Best way to suppress

– Quite surprising

Earlier that week, President Vladimir Putin also paid tribute to the Olympic heroes in a ceremony in Moscow. Among other things, Russian cross-country skier Veronika Stepanova spoke.

– I was born in January 2001. In my eyes, Russia has once again become strong, proud and successful. Not everyone in the world likes it. It is clear. But we are on the right track. And we will definitely win when we win at the Olympics, including among the few words that Stepanova chose.

It was these statements that made Sjåstad Christiansen the first to react.

– I think that’s quite surprising, you could say.

He continued:

– Now I have never heard of a biathlete coming out barking on par with him. And I kind of don’t know if they volunteer there, or if they put on a fake smile. You never know what the consequences will be for those who don’t pose. Will they be allowed to ski again? But of course it looks very ugly. Especially when you start her speech Stepanova starts. It is not good. It was really terrible.

Sjåstad Christiansen also remembers meeting Stepanova during the Blink Festival in Sandnes last year. The impression was that she was a “fine” girl, he said.

– Very disappointing that he then seemed so slightly enlightened. But then they may succeed in blocking the information, call it brainwashing which they do. Sadly.

In the throat of the Norwegian star

– Can be inserted into gape stick

Johannes Thingnes Bø shows that he has some kind of understanding that the situation of Russians in Russia is different from that of people standing outside and looking in.

There are more and more reasons to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes from sports, according to the biathlete.

– Because if Russia wants to back down, it seems the only possibility is to turn the people against themselves. And then it’s at least a step in the right direction, he said.

But it may be difficult to relate to the fact that politics and sport are mixed, as is the case now in Russia. This was demonstrated by cross-country skier Johannes Høsflot Klæbo to Dagbladet earlier this week.

Something his namesake understood well. Because in the public eye, there are many who have an opinion on your answer, said Thingnes Bø.

– Suddenly you can be put in the gallows and that’s probably why many don’t dry or want to say what they think, whether it’s right or wrong, he said and continued:

– But if we are allowed to say what we mean and people respect it, then people will probably say more. Even if the truth of what we say is not distorted through the media, which is also often the case.

Explaining tears: – Never happened before

– Have responsibility

Nevertheless, it is easy to take a stand in war, even if cross-country skiers and biathletes are not politicians, point out both Sjåstad Christiansen and Sturla Holm Lægreid.

– When it comes to war, which is not only close to us geographically, but also close to us personally considering the friends we have who had to drop biathlon to defend their country. Then I think it’s pretty easy to take a stand. Although many may refuse to say what they mean, I think everyone understands that this is wrong, in other words, he said.

– I think it’s important that we as athletes are aware of the influence we have and that we follow a worldview and a little bit of information about what’s going on. So I think as an athlete you have a responsibility to take a stand when something goes wrong, Holm Lægreid concludes.