Gymnastics A Russian gymnast got up on the podium with the letter Z on his chest supporting his military operations – “It was definitely his own idea”

Scaffolding at the world cup in doha on saturday was seen the latest indication that sport and politics go hand in hand.

Russian Ivan Kuliak20, finished third with leaning trees and caused a stir with the details of his race outfit.

The competition was the last in which Russian and Belarusian athletes were allowed to take part before they were excluded from all international competition activities. The reason is the large-scale war launched by Russia in Ukraine.

Kuliak competed as a neutral athlete without a Russian country logo in his race uniform, but the man had replaced it with another symbol.

The buttresses won the Ukraine Illia Kovtunand a taped letter Z was seen on the chest of Kuliak, who was standing next to him with a podium.

The letter Z. is a symbol used by Russia in the war, which has been seen in numerous vehicles, among other things. Russian Match TV’s according to the Russian Ministry of Defense has said the letter Z means “towards profit”.

Head coach of the Russian gymnastics team Valentina Rodionenko commented on Kuliak’s activities on Match TV.

“He didn’t tell us about this in advance, but this was definitely his own idea. Our athletes are patriotic, ”Rodionenko said.

Kuliak was the first in Finland to report on its activities Evening News.