Israeli swimmer gets booed at World Championships in Qatar

Israeli swimmer Anastasia Gorbenko faced jeers from some spectators after winning silver medal at the World Aquatics Championships in Qatar

Tensions flared at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar, as Israeli swimmer Anastasia Gorbenko was met with jeers from spectators.

Despite her impressive performance, with which she secured a silver medal in the women’s 400-meter medley on the event’s closing day, the 20-year-old athlete faced a hostile reception.

Gorbenko’s moment of triumph was overshadowed when boos erupted from the crowd as she made her poolside remarks following the race.

The jeering persisted during her medal ceremony, although it was partly drowned out by applause and cheers from other sections of the audience. Freya Colbert of Britain clinched the gold, while Italy’s Sara Franceschi took bronze.

The Israeli swimmer’s presence at the championships became a point of controversy amid heightened tensions stemming from Israel’s war on Palestine. 

Some Qatari media and pro-Palestine groups have criticized the inclusion of Israeli athletes, particularly in light of Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

Despite the adverse reactions, Gorbenko remained resolute. “I’m here to represent my country… And I’m doing this with the Israeli flag, and I’m proud of that. And whoever doesn’t like it, it’s just not my problem,” she stated.

The championships were marked by political undertones, with Belarusian swimmers competing as neutrals and Russian swimmers absent due to restrictions related to Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. These factors, along with unusual scheduling ahead of the Paris Olympics, led to a reduced field of top swimmers.

Highlighting the event, Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom secured her third consecutive 50-meter freestyle world title, while Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen and New Zealand’s Lewis Clareburt celebrated significant victories. The U.S. topped the medals table, followed by China and Australia.

Source: Newsroom