First, there was the pandemic, of course. Then there was the creepy spectacle of the Axis of Autocracy smiling down from the luxury boxes at the Opening Ceremonies. Then we had the Shiffrin implosion and Gu’s attempted footsie with the Chinese. Now we have a classic example of Russian athletic corruption and bullying. Why are these people even permitted to compete, anyway?
It’s not exactly heartwarming stuff. Let’s hope Putin doesn’t follow it up by staging a Massacre on Ice in Ukraine to avenge the Russian loss at Lake Placid in 1980.