German Paralympians Stage Silent Protest Against Russian Rivals at Winter Games
In a striking display of political dissent at the Winter Paralympics in Italy, German cross-country skiers Linn Kazmaier and Florian Baumann deliberately turned their backs on their Russian counterparts during an awkward medal ceremony on Tuesday. The visually impaired Kazmaier, aged 19, and her guide Baumann, 25, won silver in the event, while Russian athletes Anastasiia Bagiian and Sergei Siniakin claimed the gold medal.
A Quiet but Powerful Gesture of Solidarity
As the Russian national anthem played to honour the victors, Kazmaier and Baumann faced away from the podium in a quiet but powerful gesture. The German duo also refused to participate in the customary victory selfie with the Russian team, further emphasising their protest against the International Paralympic Committee's decision to readmit Russian athletes under their own flag.
'The awards ceremony felt completely strange,' Kazmaier told German newspaper BILD. 'I don't know the people, I don't know: Maybe they don't support the system in Russia either. Maybe they're really nice people we could actually be friends with. But it's just such a shame that politics overshadows everything. So we decided to keep our hats on and not turn towards the flags because we don't support them.'
Protesting Russia's Full Return to Paralympic Competition
Baumann elaborated on their motivations, highlighting solidarity with Ukrainian athletes. 'Four years ago in Beijing, we had a fantastic exchange with the Ukrainians. We wanted to show our solidarity with them,' he explained. 'This isn't about the Russian athletes. It's difficult for many of them right now, but I simply don't think it's right that the IPC decided Russia could compete here under its own flag, with its own anthem, and with its full contingent, while the Ukrainians are also here.'
The protest follows the German delegation's boycott of the Paralympics opening ceremony in Verona, another act of solidarity with Ukraine amid ongoing conflict. The 2026 Winter Paralympics marks the first time in twelve years that Russian athletes have competed under their own flag at a Games, with the nation allocated slots across three disciplines:
- One woman and one man in para alpine skiing
- One woman and one man in para cross-country skiing
- Two male snowboarders
Historical Context of Russia's Paralympic Exclusion
This return represents a significant moment for Russia, which was first banned from the Paralympics in 2016 following revelations of a state-sponsored doping programme. The country was suspended again in 2022 after Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The last time Russian athletes competed under their own flag at a Winter Paralympics was in Sochi in 2014, when Russia hosted both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Since then, any Russian competitors have participated under a neutral banner. IPC president Andrew Parsons has previously insisted that participation is 'not linked to participation in wars', but acknowledged that Russia and Belarus had used Paralympic sport to promote what Moscow terms its 'special operation'. Parsons stated there is now 'less evidence' of the Games being used to promote the war, facilitating Russia's return under its own flag.
The German athletes' protest underscores the ongoing political tensions that continue to shadow international sporting events, even as governing bodies attempt to separate athletics from geopolitical conflicts.
