Ivan Litvinovich of Belarus clinched the gold medal in the men’s trampoline final at the Paris Olympics on Friday, marking a historic first for athletes competing under a neutral flag. The 23-year-old athlete successfully defended his title, while China’s Wang Zisai and Yan Langyu secured silver and bronze, respectively. Despite this achievement, Litvinovich’s win will not be recorded in the official medals table.
Athletes from Russia and Belarus are competing as neutrals due to their exclusion from global sports following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has allowed their participation under strict conditions, including a ban on national flags and an exclusion from the opening ceremony.
To qualify, neutral athletes underwent rigorous checks to ensure they did not support the war or have ties to their countries’ military forces. Out of the eligible competitors, only 15 Russians and 17 Belarusians were invited.
Instead of the Belarusian national anthem, a generic tune created by the IOC was played during the medal ceremony. Litvinovich expressed a preference for his national anthem but chose not to comment further on political matters.
Earlier, Belarusian Viyaleta Bardzilouskaya won the first medal for neutral athletes at the Paris Games, securing silver in the women’s trampoline event.
