Talent from Russia joined the Polish national team. “I was very afraid”

Arkadiusz Dudziak from WP/SportoweFakty talked to the talented Russian, who has been living in Poland since 2023. Semirunnij will soon be able to officially take part in international competitions as a representative of Poland.

Wladimir Semirunnij will start for Poland. He’s a talented Russian

Good news regarding the decision of the ISU, the world speed skating federation, has appeared in recent days.

– Vladimir Semirunnii received permission from the ISU to represent Poland in international competitions! After two years of waiting, as well as fruitful training with the Polish Team, “Władek” will fight for qualifications to the European All-Around Championships and World Cups 3-6 during the next Polish All-Around Championships, which will be held on December 20-22. Vladimir lives in Tomaszów Mazowiecki and will represent the Pilica Tomaszów Maz club. We keep our fingers crossed and wish him good luck! – said Konrad Niedźwiedzki, sports director of the Polish Speed ​​Skating Association, via the X platform.

So it looks like Semirunnij’s great sports dream has just come true. The 21-year-old speed skater is, among others, medalist of the junior world championship. His decision to leave Russia and live in Poland, in the face of the war in Ukraine, was negatively received by his compatriots.

It is worth adding that Semirunny officially condemned the aggression of Russian troops on the territory of our eastern neighbors.

After more than a year of waiting, the speed skater will finally be able to compete for Poland.

– I was very afraid. I hope that my life and my choices will become a problem only for me, and not for my family (…) Several times I was asked where I was from and when I told them that I was from Russia, they asked why I was here. When I tell them that I am changing my citizenship and want to represent Poland on the international arena, everyone reacts positively. Everyone understood me well, why I came – he said in the above-mentioned interview for WP/SportoweFakty Semirunnij.

According to observers, the new Polish representative has really great potential to fight for high places at the most important events in the country and around the world. The most important thing, however, is that the boy can finally compete. It is worth adding that the Russian speed skating federation requested an even longer maximum penalty for changing national colors, i.e. a two-year suspension.