Aliaksandra Herasimenia: We Are Protecting Not Only Our Freedom but the Safety of Our Children

The world swimming champion called for solidarity.

The Belarusian swimmer, winner of two silver and bronze medals of the Olympic Games, world and European champion Aliaksandra Herasimenia put up a tracksuit from the awards ceremony at the Olympic Games in Rio for a charity auction. She announced this on Facebook.

- Our people are massively protesting against the dictatorship regime. Peaceful protests are taking place across the country. Students and women, businessmen and workers, sportsmen and IT specialists, young and old people - all take to the streets. Today, we are protecting not only our freedom and future; it is about the life and safety of our children.

People all over the world saw that the regime in Belarus is ready to drown the people in blood, just to preserve its power. Hundreds of people have been affected by law enforcement violence. During all the days of the protest, more than 12,000 people were detained. People were beaten, tortured, abused, and raped.

Athletes and sports workers are silenced. For expressing their civic position, condemning violence and political repression, people are fired; they are under pressure from the leadership. Athletes are excluded from the national team; they are threatened with a ban on participation in national and international competitions, the Olympic Games.

But, standing shoulder to shoulder, the Belarusians realized how strong together they are. More than 650 Belarusian athletes signed an open appeal to the authorities, demanding an end to the violence in the country.

Now, more than ever, international solidarity is important to us. Therefore, I urge you to talk about what is happening now in Belarus.

I also provided a lot for the auction to help injured athletes!

This is my suit from the awards ceremony at the Rio 2016 Olympics and an autographed photo.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/264878712170

Bronze in Rio was one of the most important victories in my career for me, that season was very difficult for me. Nobody believed that I could take the medal. But it helped me motivate myself even more! Having won the medal, I, first of all, have proved to myself that I can do anything if I really want to!

In this suit, I became the bronze medalist of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. I believe that all those feelings and emotions that I experienced that day are still stored in this suit.

All proceeds from the sale of the lot will be transferred to the Belarusian Sports Solidarity Fund, which provides financial and psychological support to athletes who have suffered for their civil position.