Sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya Auctions Off Medal To Support Belarusian Athletes

Last week, a Belarusian sprinter in the Tokyo Games, Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, was granted a humanitarian visa by Poland after refusing to return to Belarus. Now, she says she will auction off her 2019 European Games medal to help other Belarusian athletes caught up in the country’s crackdown against political opposition.

Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Przydacz wrote that Tsimanouskaya had “received a humanitarian visa” and that Poland would support the Olympic athlete as best they can.

Kryscina Tsimanouskaya a Belarusian athlet is already in direct contact with Polish diplomats in Tokyo. She has received a humanitarian Visa. Poland will do whatever is necessary to help her to continue her sporting career. ?? always stands for Solidarity.

— Marcin Przydacz (@marcin_przydacz) August 2, 2021

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Tsimanouskaya was set to compete in the 200-meter sprint last Monday. She was removed from the event after publicly criticizing her coaches.

The Chairman of the Belarus Olympic Committee is the son of the current President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko.

Belarus’s opposition leader, Sviatlana Tikhanovskaya, said she was “grateful” for the actions taken to protect Tsimanouskaya.

Grateful to #IOC for the quick reaction to the situation with the Belarusian athlete Krystsina Tsymanouskaya. She has a right to international protection & to continue participation in the @Olympics. It is also crucial to investigate Belarus' NOC violations of athletes' rights. pic.twitter.com/QQHuhgcYqs

— Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (@Tsihanouskaya) August 1, 2021