Olympics-Belarusian sprinter reaches Poland after defying order home

A police officer stands outside the Polish embassy, as a car carrying Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya exits the embassy in Tokyo, Japan August 4, 2021. REUTERS/Androniki Christodoulou

WARSAW/TOKYO (Reuters) -Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya took refuge in Poland on Wednesday after refusing to return to her authoritarian homeland from the Tokyo Olympics in a saga reminiscent of Cold War sporting defections.

The 24-year-old athlete's case could further isolate Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who is under Western sanctions after a crackdown on opponents since last year.