No National flag or anthem, yet Russian bags World Championship Gold

Russian pole vaulter Anzhelika Sidorova is in the middle of a political controversy which does not allow her to wear, portray or hold the Russian National flag or play the National Anthem during the athletic competitions, despite that the athlete bagged a Gold medal at the world championships in September 29 at the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha. The athlete competed in a muted blue uniform. On the other hand, the other two medalists beside her were portraying the national flags. Even at Monday's medal ceremony, the stirring Russian anthem will be replaced by music composed for the IAAF. After winning the medal, the athlete told a Global news agency that she was so happy that she didn't really think about the anthem or the flag. What meant to her was the fact that she won a Gold.

"Of course I'm not really comfortable with it all, but I'm so happy. I was just so happy, I didn't really think about it," Sidorova said of her flag-free victory lap. Gold is gold," Sidorova said. Talking about the competition and her final jump in it, Sirodova said, "I thought that yes, it's the chance you have to take."

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IAAF's ban on Russian flag and anthem

The Russian athletics federation has been suspended since a 2015 report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) found evidence of mass doping in the sport. Yet some Russian athletes have been cleared by the IAAF, athletics’ global body, to compete internationally as neutrals after demonstrating that they were training in a doping-free environment. Sidorova is one of them. Yet the mass doping bars neutral athletes from wearing their national colors or celebrating with their flag. If they win gold, the athletes are rather serenaded by the IAAF anthem.
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Anzhelika Sidorova's rival advocates her

Sidorova's defeated rival, Sandi Morris of the United States was her strongest advocate despite the doping sanctions on the Russian team showing sisterhood of vaulting. A rival's show of affection meant a lot since they had a "bittersweet" day big jumps but another silver to go with her second places at the 2016 Olympics and 2017 worlds. The duo were the standouts from the start, clearing every height up to 4.90 meters on the first attempt. While Morris missed her three shots at 4.95, Sidorova's last jump got her gold. She sprinted down the runway to soar over the bar and her personal best was 4.91 and she hadn't come close in training even 4.85 had been a challenge.

Advocating her rival, Morris said, "Sidorova is a friend of mine and she can't help what's going on politically. If I were her, I would have done the same thing. Go out there and fight to compete, regardless of what's going on in my country. I don't necessarily think it's a bad thing because the athletes are most important. If she's clean, she's clean, and I honestly believe she is." 

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Sirodova has raised the bar in World Championships

Since Russian Yelena Isinbayeva in 2005, no female vaulter has cleared 4.95 at world championships. Isinbayeva is a national hero in Russia and an influential critic of doping investigations into Russian sports. Sidorova became a household name in athletics with her biggest win of the 2014 European title. Yet she remains unperturbed with all the glory. Though her performance on Sunday raised the bar, she wants to keep her feet on the ground. Next stop Moscow and a long-awaited dessert.

"I'm not sure that I understand I'm the best after Isinbayeva in Russia," she said.

(With inputs from PTI)

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