Former heavyweight champion blasts the International Olympic Committee.
Wladimir Klitschko was the most dominant heavyweight champion of our time.
The Ukrainian legend was a force of nature in his prime, reigning as champion for a combined 12 years (longer than even Joe Louis). In addition, he is second only to Joe Louis for most total title defences and beat the highest number of fighters for the heavyweight championship.
What makes these achievements even more remarkable is the fact Klitschko overcame early stoppage losses to Ross Puritty, Corrie Sanders, and Lamon Brewster. This was thanks to the tutelage of the great Emanuel Steward.
Klitschko finished his career 64-5 (53 KOs), going out by giving Anthony Joshua all he could handle even at 41 years old. His in-ring credentials cannot be questioned.
But even as an amateur, Klitschko was something special. Amongst other accomplishments, he won a gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics by defeating Paea Wolfgramm.
However, Klitschko has now expressed shame for this accolade.
Earlier today, Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was removed from the Olympic Winter Games because of a helmet he chose to wear that featured images of victims of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
This decision has been met with considerable backlash, and the former unified heavyweight champion has had his say on the matter in an interview with German newspaper Bild: “Taking part is everything for Russian and Belarusian athletes. But for the killed Ukrainian athletes, not even a commemoration is allowed.”
Klitschko took aim at the International Olympic Committee by saying, “The IOC is not protecting neutrality. It is protecting its image. The faces of the Ukrainian athletes who gave their lives for freedom are ‘too political’ for your ‘perfect’ TV show. Olympic idealism is being lost in the cold calculation of the global sports business.”
Finally, Klitschko spoke of his own Olympic success, saying, “When I think about my Olympic gold medal today, I no longer feel pride, but shame.”
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