Russian wrestler Nadezhda Sokolova poses for a picture during an interview after winning the 50kg women's final at the Russian Pre-Olympic Freestyle Wrestling Championship at Live Arena venue outside Moscow, Russia, May 1, 2024. Russia's top freestyle wrestlers seeking Olympic glory plan to go to Paris this summer but will have to participate as independents and compete without their country's flag or anthem. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian wrestler Nadezhda Sokolova is determined to compete in the Paris Olympics even if that means taking part as an independent.
One of Russia's top freestyle wrestlers, Sokolova and dozens of other Russian and Belarusian athletes seeking Olympic glory this summer will have to compete without their country's flags or anthems.
