Olympic fencers who fled Russia after invasion of Ukraine win support for U.S. citizenship

Three elite Russian fencers who fled the country after Russia invaded Ukraine are seeking to become U.S. citizens in time to represent America at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

They now have the backing of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and USA Fencing.

Both organizations have written letters in support of the Russians – Konstantin Lokhanov, Sergey Bida and Violetta Bida – according to copies of the letters obtained by USA TODAY Sports.

"All 3 of these individuals have made sacrifices at great personal cost,'' wrote Phil Andrews, CEO of USA Fencing, in a letter to Congress dated Jan. 5, "and put their lives at risk to be able to represent our nation and we ask you to make every effort to support them in the extraordinary circumstance.''

But in an email to USA TODAY Sports, Andrews wrote, "Olympic selection is hotly contested, and of course simply the acquisition of citizenship is urgent to be selected through the ranking system used to decide the majority of Team USA.''

Jack Wiener, a New York attorney representing the fencers, said he and his co-counsel at the law firm Covington & Burling have begun reaching out to senators and representatives. "We have to move fast,'' Wiener said.

For the fencers to become American citizens in time for the Olympics, set to start July 26, the Senate and House of Representatives would have to pass a bill granting the fencers U.S. citizenship, according to Wiener. He said President Biden would have to sign the bill.

Wiener said the Russian fencers have signed documents, required by USA Fencing for them to compete in events sanctioned by USA Fencing, renouncing the invasion of Ukraine.

Last month the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced it would allow Russian athletes to compete at the Paris Olympics as neutral athletes as long as they meet a list of conditions, including that they refrain from signaling any support of the war in Ukraine.

Russia was technically barred from competing at the Tokyo Olympics due to a widespread doping scandal, but its athletes were allowed to represent the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC).

Russian fencers face obstacles

The fencers would be “behind the eight-ball’’ even if they gained immediate citizenship, said Bryan Wendell, Director of Communication for USA Fencing. He said qualification for the U.S. fencing team began in July, meaning the Russians would have less than half of the allotted time.

But Andrews pointed out another route for qualification – a discretionary selection spot for the team competition. By email, he added, “we would emphasize that spot needs to be earned and is available to those with high performance in competitive records only, making the case coming before Congress urgent for these individuals who have given up so much to support this great nation, to be available to be considered.”

Sergey Bida, who was ranked No. 1 in the world for men's epee in 2019 and 2020, won a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the men's team epee competition. He also won a silver medal at the 2019 World Championships in the individual epee competition.

Lakhonav, a two-time junior world champion, competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He finished seventh in the men's team saber competition and 24^th in individual saber.

The Russians also face other potential challenges, said Jon Mason, Vice President of Strategic Communications for the USOPC.

For the purposes of Olympic competition, he said, athletes are allowed to change nationalities only once. Typically, the first country, in this case Russia, must release the athlete to make that change, Mason said.

The executive board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) rules on these matters, said Mason, who noted a New Zealand cross country skier recently switched nationalities to compete for the United States.

Citing an exception in the Olympic Charter, Wiener said Russian approval for the fencers to compete for the United States would not be required because the fencers have not represented Russia in competition for three years.

The feeling of freedom

Married for less than two years, Sergey Bida, 30, and Violetta Bida, 29, arrived last weekend at a café in northern California. Both of them wore USA Fencing apparel.

“We’re ready,’’ Violetta Bida said with a smile about the possibility of representing the United States. She later added, “When I stepped on American soil, I feeling freedom.’’

But the Bidas requested their exact location not be disclosed. Pravda, a state-run newspaper in Russia, reported Dec. 27 that the Ministry of Internal Affairs had put the two fencers on a wanted list.

It is unclear what criminal code the government has accused the Bidas of violating, Pravda reported. The couple said they will not discuss the invasion of Ukraine or the Russian government on the advice of Wiener, the lead attorney.

Despite the situation, both fencers smiled easily during an interview with USA TODAY Sports. Violetta Bida also smiled while looking down at her midsection.

She said she is six months pregnant.

As a result, Violetta Bida said, she will not compete in the Paris Olympics.

While preparing to welcome their child, the Bidas said, they have settled into a one-bedroom apartment and are teaching at a fencing club. Sergey Bida expressed surprise about getting letters of support from the USOPC and USA Fencing for citizenship.

“This kind of letter, it’s impossible in Russia,’’ he said.

Expressing views by tattoo

Wearing a hoodie and baggy jeans, Lokhanov, 25, sipped coffee at a café in San Jose last weekend. He was there for the January North American Cup fencing event – not to compete but to coach his students.

It’s part of his journey that began the day before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

Lokhanov said he flew to Germany to have surgery for a hip injury the day before he got news of the invasion he said he strongly opposes.

“They started the war, killing the peoples and thinking it’s normal,’’ Lokhanov told USA TODAY Sports of his decision to flee.

At the time, Lokhanov was married to the daughter of the president of Russia’s Olympic Committee. Lokhanov said he flew to the United States after undergoing surgery and hoped his wife would join him.

She refused, and they subsequently divorced, according to Lokhanov, who has settled in San Diego and teaches at a fencing club owned by a Russian-born coach.

Shortly after arriving in the United States, Lokhanov had “Liberty’’ tattooed on his right forearm.  In July, he found another way to express his views.

At the United States Summer Nationals – Lokhanov’s first competition since signing a document renouncing the invasion – he won the gold medal in the individual saber competition. A Ukrainian fencer won the bronze, and they later posed together while holding a Ukrainian flag.

Lawyer, a former fencer, spearheads efforts

The Russian fencers have expressed gratitude for support not only from the USOPC and USA Fencing but also from Jack Wiener, a former junior Olympic fencer and the lead attorney representing the Russians, pro bono.

He called it “the right thing to do.’’

After working with the fencers on his own for several months, Wiener said, he partnered with a team of lawyers at Covington & Burling.

"We are happy to join Jack in representing the Russian Olympians as they seek US citizenship so they can compete in the Olympic Games for Team USA this summer,'' the law firm said in a statement provided to USA TODAY Sports.

Wiener said he reached out to the USOPC and USA Fencing after beginning discussions about approaching senators and representatives. “I think the natural question for them is what does the U.S. Olympic Committee think,’’ Wiener said.

Both organizations quickly responded with letters of support that Wiener said the attorneys will show when meeting with politicians.

“Our intention in endorsing their cause is to enable them to proudly represent our remarkable nation in the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games and other forthcoming international competitions,’’ wrote Sarah Hirshland, CEO of the USOPC, in a letter dated Jan. 4.

Recently, Wiener said, he met the Bidas for the first time when they visited the city and stayed at his home. He met Lokhanov for the first time earlier this year when the fencer visited New York.

Lokhanov has said he hopes Wiener will be in Paris if the fencers end up competing and representing the United States. Of the efforts to make that a reality, he said, "If there’s no Jack, there’s nothing.’’

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Olympics drama unfolds as Russian fencers seek to represent USA