Over 200 Russian athletes swap sports citizenship after start of full-scale invasion of Ukraine

Figure skating and equestrian sports follow with 11 athletes each, including Diana Davis, the daughter of renowned Russian coach Eteri Tutberidze, who, along with her ice dancing partner Gleb Smolkin, has been permitted by the Russian Figure Skating Federation to compete for the Georgian national team.

Rhythmic gymnastics and tennis occupy third place, with 5 athletes each announcing a change of sports citizenship. Notably, Anastasia Simakova, a two-time junior world champion in rhythmic gymnastics, will now compete for Germany starting from 2024.

In fourth place are motorsports and football, with 4 athletes each leaving Russia. Many of these athletes have established themselves at the highest level, as noted by Holod.

Cycling, motorcycle racing, speed skating, hockey, swimming, rowing, boxing, and sailing each saw the departure of 2 athletes from Russia.

Lastly, freestyle wrestling, track and field, biathlon, short track, MMA, judo, artistic gymnastics, and alpine skiing each lost one athlete.

Holod highlights that the actual number of Russians changing their sports citizenship may be considerably higher, as a significant portion of the data is attributed to young athletes who are not yet publicly recognized.