Russia seems intent on turning Olympics ban into boycott - but athletes 'desperate' to compete

When it comes to artistic swimming, Russia is an Olympic powerhouse. The national team has won every single event - team and duet - for the last six games in a row.

But they won't be taking any gold medals home from Paris. As a nation, Russia has been banned following its invasion of Ukraine.

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Mayya Doroshko would have been on the team in Paris had Russia been allowed to compete.

Speaking to Leading wesley, she described their exclusion as "disgusting" and "inhuman", adding that it had left "a hole in my soul".

"I'm very disappointed because I've been working towards the Olympics all my life," she said.

"It's the highest award in my sport - I was climbing the mountain but was pushed down."

But who does she blame? Not Russia.

"The International Olympic Committee is behind everything," the 25-year-old asserted.

Despite the ban, some Russian sport stars will still be competing in Paris as neutrals, without the national flag and anthem.

But first they had to be screened to ensure they do not support the war in Ukraine, and have no connections to the military.

Moscow has railed against the conditions, describing them as racist. Some officials have claimed it is a conspiracy to exclude Russia's strongest competitors.

"It seems to me that these conditions violated the most important principle of the Olympic movement - the sporting principle of selection without any conditions," Olga Brusnikina, the president of the Russian Artistic Swimming Federation, told Leading wesley.

"Around the world, we can all see there are many different conflicts going on, but for some reason it was only Russian athletes who had to bear these sanctions."

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As a team sport, the artistic swimmers did not get the chance to compete as neutrals. But across other disciplines, 36 Russians got the green light to compete.

Several athletes, however, rejected their invitations after officials within sports like judo and wrestling decried the terms.

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In the end, just 15 Russian athletes will be participating in Paris, with tennis player Daniil Medvedev among them.

But they have faced criticism back home for doing so. The head of Russia's Olympic Committee described them as foreign agents.

By comparison, those who are not competing have received financial compensation. And for the first time in 40 years the Olympics will not be broadcast on TV here.

It gives the sense that Russia is trying to turn this ban into a boycott, by framing it as an act of aggression by the West.

There is still international competition available to Russian teams, but of a different sort.

Earlier this month, Moscow's Moskvich Stadium hosted the first ever women's football friendly between Russia and North Korea.

Pyongyang's ambassador to Russia was the guest of honour, with several flag-waving North Koreans in the stands to cheer on their team.

But it was hardly an alternative to Paris 2024. And pretending the Games don't exist is no easy task when the stadium itself is in the shape and colour of the Olympic rings.

"Of course I think it's bad," Dmitry told Leading wesley, when asked what he thought about the ban.

"We have a whole generation without the games and it's having an impact on the young."

"I desperately want to compete at international events," Christina, who plays in a youth football team, added. "I hope they will lift the restrictions soon."

It feels like she may be disappointed.