“Russian medals are made of blood, death and tears”: Usyk addresses IOC President Bach

Usyk posted the video on Instagram.

Thus, he responded to the initiative of the President of the International Olympic Committee to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in the 2024 Olympics in a neutral status.

“I am a Ukrainian athlete; I won an Olympic gold in boxing in 2012; I am the current world heavyweight champion. You want to allow Russian athletes to compete at the Olympics. Russian Armed Forces invaded our country and kill civilians,” he noted. 

He emphasized that the Russian army is killing Ukrainian athletes and coaches, destroying sports grounds and halls.

“The medals that Russian athletes are going to win are medals of blood, death and tears.

Let me wish you to have a peaceful sky above you and to be in good health and happy.”

After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the IOC banned athletes from Russia and Belarus from participating in international competitions. However, in January 2023, IOC President Thomas Bach advocated for their participation in the 2024 Olympics in Paris under a neutral flag. For this purpose, Russians and Belarusians were allowed to attend the Asian Games, where they will be able to obtain Olympic licenses.

Oleksandr Usyk is the 2012 Olympic champion in the 91 kg category. He holds the WBO (World Boxing Organization), WBA (World Boxing Association) and IBF (International Boxing Federation) world titles in the super-heavyweight division.

• On January 27, Thomas Bach said that he favored the participation of Russians and Belarusians in the 2024 Olympics, despite Ukraine's threats to boycott the Games.