Israeli swimmer Gorbenko defiant after being booed at Worlds in Doha
Israel swimmer Anastasia Gorbenko was booed by sections of the crowd at the Doha World Championships after finishing runner-up in the women’s 400 meters individual medley on Sunday.
Gorbenko’s celebrations were spoiled as a chorus of boos rained down from the terraces, drowning out her post-race interview by the floor presenter.
The jeers continued as the 20-year-old Gorbenko left the Aspire Dome pool, and she was booed again at the medals ceremony though there was also applause. Briton Freya Constance Colbert won the race.
The presence of Israeli swimmers at the championships has drawn criticism from some Doha media outlets and pro-Palestine groups amid Israel’s military campaign in Gaza in response to Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel.
Politics also infused the event in Doha where Belarusian swimmers competed as neutrals due to restrictions imposed on their athletes, and Russia’s, stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russia’s swimming federation called the restrictions unacceptable and none of the country’s swimmers competed.
The boycott further weakened the competition, with Doha snubbed by a number of top swimmers due to its unusual scheduling in the lead-up to the Paris Olympics in July and August.
On Sunday, Gorbenko smiled when she mounted the podium and sighed during the mix of boos and cheers from spectators. She later said it was not the first time she had been jeered at the event.
“I’ve been here a week, I heard all these noises but I’m with ear-plugs. I’m in my zone. I’m here to do what I love to do, which is sports,” she told reporters.
“I’m here to represent my country... And I’m doing this with the Israeli flag and I’m proud of that. And whoever doesn’t like it, it’s just not my problem.”
Swimming’s global governing body World Aquatics did not provide immediate comment.
Gorbenko said she had no hesitation about mounting the podium but the booing had impacted her during the week.
“There was no way I was going to miss [the podium] just because some little kids are going to do whatever they want to,” she added.
“It does affect me emotionally. It’s been like a
long week for me. I expected myself to do better than what I did.”
She said she would not hesitate to swim at future events at Arab countries.
“At the end of the day, Israeli is in the Middle East as well; I hope one day we’ll be able to make some peace with everyone.”
Gorbenko, whose parents are Ukrainian, was born and raised in Israel.
She said she had relatives in Ukraine and was concerned for them during the country’s war with Russia.
“I have relatives in Ukraine. Of course it’s hard as well. But there’s nothing I can do,” she said.
“Whatever I can do is do my best in the swimming pool and support my country and my family this way.”
(Reuters)