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December 2024 by Urtė Andriukaitytė

Lithuania Monthly: Make russia Small Again

The disqualification of Lithuanian athlete Kornelija Dūdaitė from the World Functional Sports Championships sparked widespread debate, highlighting the entanglement of sports and global politics. Celebrated at home for her bold stance against Russian athletes competing under their national symbols, Dūdaitė faced intense criticism from Kremlin-aligned actors who labeled her actions as Russophobic. This incident underscores how geopolitical tensions permeate even the sporting arena, with reactions ranging from admiration to condemnation on a global scale.

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Kornelija Dūdaitė
December 16th - December 22nd, 2024 by Urtė Andriukaitytė

Lithuania Weekly: Make russia Small Again

The disqualification of Lithuanian athlete Kornelija Dūdaitė at the 2024 Functional Sports World Championships in Budapest highlighted the intersection of sports and politics. Wearing a T-shirt with the slogan "make russia small again" in protest against perceived violations of neutrality rules for Russian athletes, Dūdaitė's act sparked widespread debate. While she received domestic praise for her principled stance, Kremlin-aligned media framed her protest as Russophobia and defended her disqualification as a necessary stand against politicizing sports. The incident underscored deeply polarized views on Russia’s role in international events, reflecting the broader societal divide on geopolitical issues.

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