Wimbledon: Ukrainian player Kostyuk slams 'terrible' IOC decision on Russia
AP News • • sports
Key Points:
- Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk reached the Wimbledon semifinals while her home country faces ongoing deadly Russian attacks, including recent missile strikes near her parents' residence in Kyiv.
- Kostyuk struggles to balance focus on her sport with awareness of the war's impact, describing the situation as emotionally challenging but striving not to let it affect her performance.
- The International Olympic Committee recently lifted Russia's ban and recommended removing neutral status for Russian athletes, a decision Kostyuk strongly opposes, calling it unfair to Ukraine and other countries.
- Kostyuk will face Czech player Linda Noskova in the Wimbledon semifinals, aiming to become Ukraine's first Wimbledon women's finalist, following Elina Svitolina's previous semifinal appearances.
- The Kremlin welcomed the IOC's decision as a positive step, while Kostyuk expressed her intent to compete fiercely against Russian opponents in future events like the Olympics.
