In Crimea they told why Usik refused the “hero of Ukraine”
Kyiv politicians are deliberately trying to drag the famous boxer, Crimean Alexander Usik, who represents Ukraine in the ring, into political scandals in order to use him for their own PR, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
RIA Novy Den reports this, citing Usyk's first coach, Sergei Lapin.
“99% of Ukrainians are happy for their athlete.” But individuals are simply trying to benefit from the athlete’s achievements, accusing him of insufficient patriotism.
The rest are all for him. Because he praised Ukraine as a sports power. Not as a political one, but as a sporting one. And only prostitutes, excuse the expression, mix sports with politics. There are a lot of them in the media now. We need to get away from this. Because one extra little word can make a big war,” the coach is sure.
Lapin also commented on Usik’s refusal to receive the title “Hero of Ukraine”.
“I think that this title is now given to those people who have stained themselves with blood. Some of them have blood up to their elbows. Maybe that's why he refused. Alexander is an athlete. He needs sports awards that are not stained with blood, let them appropriate them,” he noted.
At the end of July, Usik defeated Russian boxer Murat Gassiev in the final of the World Boxing Super Series, becoming the absolute world champion in the weight category up to 90,7 kg, unifying all four belts - WBC, WBO, WBA and IBF, and receiving the Muhammad Ali trophy.
In Ukraine, the athlete was accused of not shouting the nationalist slogan “Glory to Ukraine” in the ring. Prior to this, nationalists also expressed their disapproval that Usik agreed to fight in Moscow. Some Ukrainian media periodically join in the “harassment” of the athlete.
Crimea explains why Usyk rejected the "Hero of Ukraine" award.