Shane Perkins emigrates to Russia

[fiamme red]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...ting-to-russia

Shane Perkins’ switch to Russia has been rubber-stamped after president Vladimir Putin signed an executive order to grant the Australia-born Olympic bronze medallist and dual world champion Russian citizenship.

Perkins, who represented Australia and won individual sprint bronze at the 2012 Olympic Games, applied for citizenship in February after informing Cycling Australia of his intention to switch allegiances last year.

He had missed out on the Australian team for the 2016 Rio Olympics and said he wanted to pursue other options to chase his dream of Olympic representation at Tokyo 2020...

Perkins has no family ties to Russia and any connection to his new nation stemmed purely from a strong friendship with his fellow cyclist, Denis Dmitriev, who recommended he apply to make the switch after the pair talked of Perkins’ struggles for recognition within the Australian set-up.

I was a Shane Perkins fan, especially after watching the Ryokou documentary about him racing keirin in Japan: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...qq43PNm5YlBary. But this makes me lose respect for him. I understand that this is his ticket to the 2020 Olympics, but why Russia, of all countries?

[m4rk540]

https://www.theatlantic.com/entertai...etflix/535962/

[gasman]

Bingo !

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by fiamme red

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...ting-to-russia

I was a Shane Perkins fan, especially after watching the Ryokou documentary about him racing keirin in Japan: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...qq43PNm5YlBary. But this makes me lose respect for him. I understand that this is his ticket to the 2020 Olympics, but why Russia, of all countries?

Not that unusual..

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...an-jersey.html

[Anarchist]

How is it any different than Froome or Farah racing under British passports?

[thegunner]

Originally Posted by Anarchist

How is it any different than Froome or Farah racing under British passports?

mo farah's father was british, he went to school in london, and ran in london.
similarly, both of froome's parants were british citizens.

as far as i know, perkins has no existing ties to russia aside from being snubbed by team AUS.

[binxnyrwarrsoul]

Win, medal or get the chance to by what ever means necessary. If he's later snubbed by the Russian cycling team, maybe he'll apply for Kenyan citizenship.

[merckx]

One his competitive career becomes obsolete, he will likely suffer an earth and sky moment when he considers the ramifications of this act.

[fiamme red]

He's actually still based in Australia, but he goes to Russia for training camps and to compete.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/cycling/43501875

Putin was recently re-elected by a landslide, with some European observers saying there was a lack of genuine choice in the poll.

The poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Britain has also sparked growing western tensions with Moscow.

But Perkins sees another side to the story, and would welcome a meeting with the president.

"All the stuff in the media about Putin being re-elected, it makes my blood boil a bit, so you could say I'm a passionate Russian as well," he said.

"I'm obviously grateful that he was supportive of me coming on board. One day it would be super cool to meet him and thank him in person, and shake his hand. It'd be awesome."

[pinkshogun]

In related news, the great series The Americans begins its last season tonight on FX at 10pm

[cadence90]

Originally Posted by pinkshogun

In related news, the great series The Americans begins its last season tonight on FX at 10pm

Is that the series about those people who loved potatoes but couldn't get any and so left their island for some other place? Or am I mixing them up with some other travelling group?
.

[fiamme red]

For those who haven't see it, this documentary about Perkins racing keirin in Japan is fascinating:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?ann...id=5FdoxEXUNmk