(CNN) – The Belarusian sprinter Kristina Timanovskaya She was going to compete in the women’s 200 meters at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday, hoping her hard work would catapult her to the podium. Instead, he became the center of global attention for his off-track performance.
According to Timanovskaya, representatives of the Belarusian national team tried to forcibly send her back to her home country after she criticized sports authorities in an Instagram post on Friday. The 24-year-old athlete, arguing that she was afraid of being jailed, refused to board the flight from Japan on Monday, and was granted a humanitarian visa from Poland that same day.
His post on Instagram was not explicitly political, but Belarusian athletes have faced retaliation, been detained and banned from national teams for criticize the government after last year’s massive protests against the President Alexander Lukashenko.
The Belarusian National Olympic Committee has said that Timanovskaya was withdrawn from the Games due to her “emotional and psychological state”.
CNN spoke with Timanovskaya about how their week unfolded.
Timanovskaya enters the Polish embassy in Tokyo on August 2, 2021.
Q: Tell us more about the trip to the airport on Monday
Timanovskaya: There were two men who accompanied me to the airport. One of them was a representative of our National Olympic Committee and the second was someone from our team, perhaps a doctor or a psychologist. They didn’t tell me anything, they just took my suitcase and took me to the airport.
What made you decide not to board the flight?
T: Before getting in the car, my grandmother called me. He told me that I should not go back to Belarus because it was not safe for me there. He told me that they said bad things about me on (state) television: that I was ill, that I had psychological problems.
My parents understood that if they said that kind of thing about me on television, I would most likely not be able to go home to Belarus … I don’t know where they would take me. Maybe to jail or, more likely, to a psychological hospital.
At the airport, I used a translation app on my phone to write that I needed help. I found a policeman and showed him my phone.
Did you imagine that all this would happen as a result of your publication on Instagram?
T: No. I did not agree with the decision of our coach, who had decided that I should run the relays without my consent.
When I tried to talk to them, they ignored me. My coaches said it was not their decision to send me home, they were simply told to do it. My coaches didn’t tell me who ordered them to send me home.
When did you realize that your life in Belarus would never be the same again?
T: It happened after I got the call from my grandmother. Before that, I was thinking that maybe I could go home safely. But after the statements that were made about me on television, I realized that it would be dangerous.
I was very surprised that these statements were made about me on television, since I was not talking about politics or the government. It was a great shock.
I don’t really want to say anything about the president, about politics. I prefer to stay out of this issue. I want to continue my sports career and do what I can.
How do you feel about being left out of the Games?
I am upset that I was denied the opportunity to be in the Olympics. I was ready for the Games, especially for the 200 meters. They took away the dream of participating in the Olympics. This opportunity was taken from me.
I want to continue my sports career. I’m already thinking about the next Olympics.
What is your message to the people of Belarus?
T: Do not be afraid, always express your opinion. We have to have freedom of expression and people must express their opinion.
This interview has been edited for ease of understanding. CNN’s Kara Fox contributed to this report.
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