of yelena isinbayeva anti-gay remarks

Russian athlete Yelena Isinbayeva says she may have been "misunderstood" over comments condemning homosexuality and insists she is against discrimination.

In response, earlier this week, United States runner Nick Symmonds dedicated his world 800m silver medal to his gay and lesbian friends, while Swedish high jumper Emma Green-Tregaro painted her fingernails in the colours of the rainbow flag. Speaking in English at a news conference, Isinbayeva had said of Green-Tregaro's actions.

It's disrespectful to our country, disrespectful to our citizens because we are Russians. Maybe we are different than European people and people from different lands. We have our law which everyone has to respect. When we go to different countries, we try to follow their rules. We are not trying to set our rules over there. We are just trying to be respectful. We consider ourselves, like normal, standard people, we just live boys with women, girls with boys. It comes from the history. I hope the problem won't ruin our Olympic Games in Sochi.

Photo Source: The Telegraph


Watch Isinbayeva condemns displays of homosexuality

After the news conference, the pole-vaulter said,

English is not my first language and I think I may have been misunderstood. I am opposed to any discrimination against gay people on the grounds of their sexuality.