Russian gymnast wears Z in ‘shocking behaviour’ on podium alongside Ukrainian winner

Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak is facing disciplinary action for sporting an insignia linked to the invasion of Ukraine on the medals podium.

Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak stands in a shirt that shows letter Z to receive his bronze medal

Kuliak, who is an artistic gymnast and earned a bronze medal at the Gymnastics World Cup event in Doha on Saturday, wore a shirt that had the symbol “Z” prominently placed as he stood next to Ukraine’s Kovtun Illia, the gold medallist.

The letter Z does not exist in the Cyrillic Russian alphabet, and has become symbolic with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It has been seen painted on the side of tanks and military vehicles, and has also been worn by pro-war politicians in Russia.

Kuliak’s move to wear a shirt prominently displaying the symbol is being seen as support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has seen major Ukrainian cities destroyed and over 1.5 million people displaced so far.

The International Gymnastics Federation said it had opened disciplinary proceedings against the gymnast.

“The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) confirms that it will ask the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation to open disciplinary proceedings against Ivan Kuliak following his shocking behaviour at the Apparatus World Cup in Doha, Qatar,” a statement from the ruling body said.

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