Marta Kostyuk Condemns IOC Russia Move After Reaching 1st Wimbledon Semifinal
Updated
Updated · ESPN · Jul 8
Marta Kostyuk Condemns IOC Russia Move After Reaching 1st Wimbledon Semifinal
3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jul 8
Summary
24-year-old Marta Kostyuk blasted the IOC for provisionally lifting its ban on Russia and urging sports to drop neutral status, speaking after her quarterfinal win sent her into a first Wimbledon semifinal.
Kostyuk called the move "terrible" and unfair, saying she wants to "beat every single Russian" at the Olympics as the Kremlin welcomed the decision as an important step toward restoring Russian athletes' rights.
Wednesday's advance made the 12th seed the second Ukrainian woman to reach a Wimbledon semifinal; she next faces Linda Noskova, with Coco Gauff meeting Karolina Muchova in the other last-four match.
Her comments came as Russian attacks again hit Kyiv: missiles struck near her parents' home on Monday, following an 11-hour assault last week that killed at least 21 civilians.
The war has shaped Kostyuk's tour life since 2022, including no handshakes with Russian opponents; she is now chasing Ukraine's first Wimbledon women's final.
Does allowing Russian athletes back to the Olympics betray the spirit of peace?
As sports federations split on Russia's return, is the Olympic movement itself fracturing?
Wimbledon 2026: Marta Kostyuk’s Breakthrough, IOC’s Russian Ban Reversal, and the Rising Tensions in International Sports
Overview
In July 2026, Ukrainian tennis star Marta Kostyuk reached her first Wimbledon semi-final after a commanding win over Jasmine Paolini. Her achievement was quickly followed by strong criticism of the International Olympic Committee’s decision to lift the suspension on the Russian Olympic Committee, a move she called 'terrible.' Kostyuk’s reaction reflects her ongoing frustration with Russian athletes’ participation amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. She announced plans to address the issue after Wimbledon, highlighting how the war continues to shape both her career and the broader debate over Russian involvement in international sports.