Poland grants humanitarian visa to Belarus Olympian Krystsina Tsimanouskaya

Belarusian Olympian Krystsina Tsimanouskaya has received a humanitarian visa from Poland.

The move comes after Tsimanouskaya refused to board a flight from Tokyo on Sunday. The sprinter was reportedly taken to the airport against her will after criticizing the Belarusian coaching staff.

Belarusian athlete Krystsina Tsimanouskaya walked into Poland's embassy in Tokyo a day after refusing to board a flight against her wishes. The 24-year-old would seek asylum in Poland, a member of the local Belarus community who was in touch with her said https://t.co/P7Z9Rjhx0i pic.twitter.com/gCiJ5bdoa0

— Reuters (@Reuters) August 2, 2021

“I will not return to Belarus,” Tsimanouskaya told Reuters in a message over Telegram.

The Olympian also pleaded with the IOC to assist her, stating in a video posted to Telegram that she was being forced out of Japan without her consent.

"I ask the International Olympic Committee for help, they put pressure on me and they try to take me out of the country without my consent."
Kryscina Tsimanouskaya is helping for help. Please someone give her political asylum!! https://t.co/aV0KTHYJ0M

— Olga Lautman (@OlgaNYC1211) August 1, 2021

Tsimanouskaya was scheduled to race in the 200m heat on Monday and the 4×400 relay on Thursday. The Belarusian was outspoken about being added to the relay team at the last minute, without sufficient training for the event.

The Belarusian Olympic Committee released a statement claiming that Tsimanouskaya had exited the competition due to her “emotional and psychological state.”

Tsimanouskaya refutes the claim, stating that she was removed from the team because of her public statements regarding “the negligence of our coaches.”

The Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation confirmed to the AP that it had obtained a ticket for Tsimanouskaya to Warsaw on Aug. 4.