2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES
- Pool Swimming: July 27 – August 4, 2024
- Open Water Swimming: August 8 – 9, 2024
- La Défense Arena — Paris, France
- LCM (50 meters)
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- Prelims Live Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2
- Finals Live Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2
Belarusian 27-year-old Alina Zmushka qualified 5th for Monday’s 100 breaststroke final with a time of 1:05.93 in the semifinals on Sunday, raising the question: What is the protocol if a so-called “individual neutral athlete” makes the podium at the Paris Olympics?
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) planned ahead for this possibility back in December, creating a custom flag for neutral athletes and producing a lyric-less anthem solely for the purpose of being played at a potential medal celebration. The anthem is available to listen to here.
Athletes from Russia and Belarus had to apply for neutral status at the Paris Olympics as punishment for their countries’ invasion of Ukraine back in 2022. Only four pool swimmers received invites as neutrals this summer: Russian swimmer Evgenii Somov and Belarusian swimmers Ilya Shymanovich, Anastasiya Shkurdai, and Zmushka.
Zmushka lowered her own national record of 1:06.20 from earlier this month by almost a few tenths. In the process, she established herself as a medal contender within a few tenths of No. 3 qualifier Lilly King (1:05.64). Other sub-1:06 finishers in semis included top qualifier Tatjana Smith (1:05.00), Mona McSharry (1:05.51), Tang Qianting (1:05.83), and Angharad Evans (1:05.99). The three fastest women this season are Tang (1:04.39), Smith (1:05.00), and King (1:05.43).
There are 32 neutral athletes in total competing at the Paris Olympics — including just 15 Russian citizens — a huge drop from the 330 Russians and 104 Belarusians who went to Tokyo in 2021. Russia’s state TV channels aren’t broadcasting any of the events this summer for the first time since the Soviet-boycotted 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Related:
- Chikunova Scorches 2:18.98 200 Breast to Close Out 2024 Russian Swimming Cup
- Russian Swimmer Ivan Girev Cancels Neutral Status Designation for Paris 2024
Russia appealed the banishment to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but it was upheld on the basis of Russia annexing Ukrainian sporting organizations, which CAS determined to be a violation of the Olympic Charter. Russian or Belarusian teams were banned from qualifying for team events in Paris, and no divers, water polo players, or artistic swimmers were invited.
Russian athletes competed as “Olympic Athletes from Russia” at the 2018 Olympics before representing the “Russian Olympic Committee” at the last two Olympics due to doping sanctions.