A Russian national team has made its debut at a major international team sport event under the national flag and anthem for the first time since 2022. The women’s water polo team became the first Russian squad to compete in full-fledged status after World Aquatics lifted all restrictions imposed on Russia, as well as Belarus, over the Ukraine conflict.
The federation, which governs competitions in swimming, diving, high diving, artistic swimming, water polo, and open-water swimming, has been gradually easing restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes since 2024. This month, it fully lifted those limitations.
In a statement earlier this month, World Aquatics said: “Senior athletes with Belarusian or Russian sport nationality will be permitted to compete in World Aquatics events in the same way as their counterparts representing other nationalities, with their respective uniforms, flags, and anthems.”
The Russian women’s team defeated Argentina 33-11 during a second division competition in Malta. The team is scheduled to face Germany and South Africa later this week.
The decision has sparked criticism from Kyiv and its allies. Ukraine’s men’s team withdrew from the competition in protest. EU Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef, harshly criticized the federation’s ruling, branding it a “grave mistake” and declaring that the bloc would not “accept this normalization.”
Over the past year, multiple international sports bodies have restored rights for certain Russian athletes to compete globally under neutral status without national flags or anthems. Late last year, the International Sambo Federation (FIAS) cleared Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags and anthems.
Russian officials have repeatedly accused Western countries of politicizing sport and pressuring federations to exclude athletes, as well as adhering to double standards.