Athletes and the rules of the game

Historically, the Putin regime has counted prominent Russian athletes among its most outspoken supporters. In 2017, ice hockey player Alexander Ovechkin launched an “informal movement” online called “Putin Team”, whose mission — according to its now disabled website — was to unite internationally famous Russians who “respect their country and support Putin”.

Now the only proof that the organisation existed is one post by Ovechkin from 2017 and the rebirth of the “Putin Team” slogan as a clothing brand.

Recently, the pole vaulter Elena Isinbayeva — a one-time member of “Putin Team” who had remained openly friendly with the regime — left Russia for Spain and appeared to try to walk back some of her support for the Kremlin. Isinbayeva’s actions have drawn major media attention. The story has also reignited interest in famous athletes’ changing relationship to Putin. Here, we tracked the comments and online posts of several former members of “Putin Team” in the years since the project was formed. Which of them are still playing for the “team”? Which of them have formed new allegiances since the war began?

Note: many Russian athletes are funded by state foundations — or by organisations with strong government ties.

Gold medalists in patriotism

Evgeni Plushenko

(Figure skater. Two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time world champion)

Then: Publicly supported amendments to the constitution. Proclaimed himself a “die-hard” fan of Putin, whom he called the “best leader ever”.

Now: In March 2022, urged people not to “mix sports and politics” — but then, a month later, put on a show with the slogan “For Russia! For the Future!” in which military propaganda was integrated into the event promotion and other invited athletes seemed surprised by the event’s distinctly political flavour.

Anton Shipulin

(Biathlete. 2017 world champion)

Then: highly visible member of Ovechkin’s “Putin team”, posting in 2017 that “Putin team is my team”. Joined the ruling “United Russia” party in 2019 and was elected to the State Duma in 2021, retiring from his athletic career.

Now: Voted for all Kremlin initiatives, including the declaration of “independence” for the Donetsk and Luhansk “people’s republics”, the subsequent “annexation” of those territories, and the law on “discrediting” the army. Expressed surprise that fellow biathletes on the Norwegian national team “don’t want to be friends [anymore]” and reprimanded them for letting politics interfere with sportsmanship.

Sergey Karjakin

(Chess grandmaster)

Then: Publicly supported the annexation of Crimea, where he grew up. Denied all ties to Ukrainian national identity, insisting that he “never learned to speak Ukrainian” in the 19 years he lived there. Nominated by Putin to serve in the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation. Has repeatedly offered to teach Putin to play chess.

Now: Expressed support for the war, which he framed as a response to the “eight-year genocide by the Kyiv regime”. Was disqualified by the International Chess Federation for six months beginning in March 2022; afterward, refused to participate statelessly in the 2023 Chess World Cup. Yet again expressed his belief that Putin would be a “great chess player” because he is “a brilliant strategist”.

Rookies in patriotism

Evgeni Malkin

(Ice hockey player. Captain of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, two-time World Champion)

Then: Got the hood of his BMW emblazoned with a Russian flag, a picture of the Kremlin, and a large photograph of Putin’s face. Remarked in 2019 that Putin was “conducting foreign policy correctly”.

Now: Silent. Has made no political statements since February 2022. Continues to play for the Penguins.

Alexander Ovechkin

(Ice hockey player. Captain of the NHL’s Washington Capitals, three-time World Champion and Stanley Cup winner)

Then: Founded the “Putin Team”. Received a tea set from Putin as a wedding gift in 2019. Wished Putin a happy birthday on Instagram every year from 2014 to 2019.

Now: Has said both that “no more war is needed” and “Putin is my president”. Hasn’t removed Putin from his Instagram profile picture but didn’t wish him a happy birthday this year.

Ilya Kovalchuk

(Former NHL ice hockey player. Winner at the 2018 Olympics)

Then: Called Putin a “machine,” “our captain,” and “the hulk,” among other admiring epithets. Invited the president to play hockey, presented him with a lucky sweater from the Pyeongchang Olympics, and expressed his desire to meet Putin “more often”.

Now: Almost silent. Became general manager of the Russian national hockey team. Remarked that “sport has always been outside of politics, but now somehow [politics] wormed its way in”.

Elena Isinbayeva

(Retired pole vaulter. Two-time Olympic gold medalist, three-time World Champion, world record holder)

Then: Spoke out in favour of eliminating presidential term limits. Was officially awarded the rank of major of the Russian Armed Forces and wore epaulettes for the ceremony.

Now: Left Russia for her villa in Spain, having been granted “indefinite leave” from her ostensible military duties. Has been criticised both by State Duma MPs (for leaving the country) and anti-war activists (for not speaking out against the war) after Alexey Navalny’s team published a story about her emigration in July. Following the exposè, claimed that her involvement in the military was only ever “nominal” and called herself a “citizen of the world”.

Bonus: disqualified patriots

Fedor Smolov

(Football player. Sixth-best scorer in the Russian championship, responsible for a famous missed penalty shot at the 2018 World Cup)

Then: Did not join “Putin Team”, but claimed in a 2019 interview that he had hung a portrait of Putin in his living room because he was “proud” of “his president.”

Now: Spoke out against the war on Instagram on February 24 and has not deleted the post.

Aleksandr Kerzhakov

(Football player, one of the best Russian scorers ever)

Then: Did not join “Putin Team,” but was one of the president’s official “confidants” in the 2012 election and wished him a happy birthday on Instagram in 2014.

Now: Has admitted that his 2012 “confidant” status “came from above” and that even then he “did not understand” exactly what the role entailed other than being present at election campaign events. Has spoken out against the war, saying that his number one wish is “for there to be no war” and that he never would have thought that “this could happen [...] in such a modern and progressive society.” Left Russia with his family in fall 2022.

Edited by Lucy Silbaugh