In a disappointing finale to the Doha World Championships on Sunday, an Israeli medalist was booed by the audience, putting a damper on some amazing swimming exploits, including Sarah Sjostrom’s third consecutive 50-meter freestyle world gold.
Anastasia Gorbenko won silver in the women’s 400m individual medley, but her jubilation were cut short as a chorus of boos rained down from the stands, drowning out her post-race interview with the floor presenter.
The jeers continued when Gorbenko exited the Aspire Dome pool, and she was booed again at the medal presentation, although there was also cheering. Freya Constance Colbert, a Briton, won the event.
The presence of Israeli swimmers at the championships has drawn criticism from some Qatari media outlets and pro-Palestine groups amid Israel’s military campaign in Gaza in response to Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel.
Gorbenko said she had been booed multiple times during the week and it had affected her emotionally. But she was defiant that she deserved her moment on the podium.
“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,” the 20-year-old told reporters.
Swimming’s global governing body World Aquatics declined to comment.
Politics infused the event in Doha where Belarusian swimmers competed as neutrals due to restrictions imposed on their athletes, and Russia’s, stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — which Moscow called a “special military operation”.
Russia’s swimming federation called the restrictions unacceptable and none of the country’s swimmers competed.
The boycott further weakened the competition, with Doha snubbed by a number of top swimmers due to its unusual scheduling in the lead-up to the Paris Olympics in July and August.
Swede Sjostrom, however, gave the event a much-needed boost.
The world record holder showed she will be the woman to beat for the Olympic 50m freestyle gold by rocketing to the title with a blazing time of 23.69, the fourth fastest in history.
“That was amazing. I’m super happy that I was able to swim so fast… I came here with confidence that I did a really good time yesterday,” said Sjostrom, who beat American silver medal winner Kate Douglass by more than two-tenths of a second.
“So it gives me a lot of confidence coming up to Paris.”
