German skier Lynn Katzmaier and her accompanying Florian Baumann demonstrated their opposition to the admission of Russians to the 2026 Paralympic Games with national symbols. Europeans did not salute the anthem of the aggressor country, turned away from its flag, and also refused to take a joint photo with athletes from the Russian Federation.

The sports editorial office of the television and radio company ARD reports this.. Katzmaier, who won silver in the sprint, and Baumann, during the awards ceremony, pointedly kept their distance from Russian Anastasia Bagiyan and her accompanying Sergei Sinyakin.

During the performance of the anthem of the Russian terrorist state, the Germans did not remove their hats, as is customary for athletes. And then they left the podium, refusing to take a joint photo with the winners.

“Four years ago in Beijing we had a wonderful exchange of views with the Ukrainians.

We wanted to express our solidarity with them. “I just don’t think it’s right that the decision of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) allows Russia to compete here under its own flag, with its own anthem and with a full contingent, while the Ukrainians are also here,” Katsamaier explained her position.

Previously, the IPC banned Ukrainian fans from displaying the national flag at the 2026 Paralympic stadiums, equating it with the symbols of the Russian Federation.