Police officers watch as the car carrying Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya leaves the Polish 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.
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