Russian pole vault great Yelena Isinbayeva has inflamed the row over Russia’s controversial new anti-gay law by insisting she supports the legislation because Russians consider themselves “normal, standard people”.
Isinbayeva, Russia’s most celebrated athlete who received her gold medal on THursday after winning her third world crown on Tuesday, also condemned two Swedish athletes for protesting against the law banning the promotion of homosexuality by painting their nails in the colour of the rainbow flag in support of gay rights.
High jumper Emma Green-Tregaro wore rainbow-coloured nails for her high jump qualifying competition yesterday, while compatriot Moa Hjelmer did likewise for her 200 metres heat.
“It’s disrespectful to our country, disrespectful to our citizens, because we are Russians,” Isinbayeva told a news conference in English. “Maybe we are different than European people and people from different lands. We have our law which everyone has to respect. When we go to different countries, we try to follow their rules. We are not trying to set our rules over there. We are just trying to be respectful.”
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