Kiev has accused Sofia Ilteryakova of unsportsmanlike behavior and “passive aggression” toward Ukrainian athletes

The head coach of Russia’s national rhythmic gymnastics team has denied that young gymnast Sofia Ilteryakova disrespected Ukraine during an award ceremony.

The incident occurred on Monday at the 2026 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup in Sofia, Bulgaria. Ilteryakova, competing as a neutral athlete, finished second in the hoop event. Ukraine’s Taisiya Onofriychuk took first place and Italy’s Sofia Raffaeli placed third.

As the Ukrainian anthem played, Onofriychuk and Raffaeli turned to face their national flags, while Ilteryakova remained standing still, facing the opposite direction.

Російська гімнастка відвернулася під час виконання гімну України після перемоги Таїсії Онофрійчук. Україна вимагає позбавити її «нейтрального» статусу.

В Українській федерації гімнастики заявили, що росіянка Ільтерякова порушила етичні норми та принципи Fair Play.

1\3 pic.twitter.com/sH2Gd7aINK

— ҐРУНТ (@grntmedia) March 31, 2026

World Gymnastics, the global governing body, opened an investigation into the matter, while the Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation said Ilteryakova was “openly demonstrating disrespect” toward Ukraine’s national symbols and had committed “a form of passive aggression against Ukrainian athletes.”

Tatyana Sergayeva, the head coach of the Russian team, defended the 15-year-old gymnast.

“Sofia Ilteryakova participated in the World Cup for the first time, making her debut at such a high-level competition,” Sergayeva said on Wednesday in a statement on the website of the Russian Gymnastics Federation. “She may have been a little confused during the award ceremony, which is entirely natural for an athlete competing at this level for the first time,” she added.

There has been tension between Russian and Ukrainian athletes due to the ongoing armed conflict between the two countries. In 2025, Onofriychuk refused to pose for a photo during two award ceremonies with Moscow-born Vera Tugolukova, who represents Cyprus.

Зірка української гімнастики, 16-річна Таїсія Онофрійчук відмовилася від спільного фото з "нейтральними" росіянкою та білорускою.

Це сталося під час церемонії нагородження Кубка світу з художньої гімнастики.

На етапі в Баку Онофрійчук здобула золото у вправах з обручем. pic.twitter.com/OzYmrwNPpe

— Олег Володарський (@volodarskijo) April 20, 2025

The same year in Egypt, Ukrainian synchronized swimmers Darya Moshinskaya and Anastasia Shmonina similarly declined to shake hands or pose for photos with their Russian competitors, Maya Doroshko and Tatyana Gayday.

⚡️Украинские пловчихи-синхронистки проиграли русским спортсменкам и отказались с ними фотографироваться и пожимать руки

В пятницу россиянки Майя Дорошко и Татьяна Гайдай выиграли техническую программу дуэтов. Украинки Дарья Мошинская и Анастасия Шмонина стали вторыми pic.twitter.com/7EzeteE8K1

— Третий Ученик Штирлица (@TStirlica89368) April 13, 2025

Last month, Ukrainian wrestler Artur Kostyuk stepped down from the podium in Serbia when the Russian anthem began playing and turned his back on the national flags.

Source: RT - Daily news