A Russian triple Olympic gold medalist was ditched by a key sponsor, which called him 'crazy and idiotic' for attending a pro-war rally

• Olympian Alexander Bolshunov has been dropped by his sponsor, glove manufacturer Kinetixx.
• The Russian skier, who won three golds in Beijing, attended a pro-war rally earlier this month.

The Russian skier Alexander Bolshunov, who won three Winter Olympic gold medals less than two months ago, has been dropped by a key sponsor and condemned for showing his support for the invasion of Ukraine.

Bolshunov was among a number of Russian athletes to attend a pro-war rally organized by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow earlier this month. At the rally, Putin praised Russia's invasion of Ukraine in a pageant-like setting designed to glorify the war.

Bolshunov — who won golds at Beijing in the 30 kilometer skiathlon, the 50 kilometer freestyle cross country ski event, and the 4x10 kilometer while competing for the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) — appeared on stage wearing the nationalist "Z" symbol on his coat.

After that display, he was dropped by Kinetixx, a glove manufacturer widely used by elite cross country skiers.

Helmut Hanus, the marketing manager for Kinetixx, told the Norwegian newspaper VG that the company had ended its sponsor agreements with Russian athletes, including Bolshunov, following the invasion.

Hanus also hit out at Bolshunov's appearance at the rally, calling the 25-year-old's actions "crazy and idiotic."

"I have no words," Hanus told VG. "He has proven to be a supporter of Putin, and that is completely unacceptable.

"We completely distance ourselves from that. Bolshunov and others have supported Putin.

"Seeing them in the stadium during the propaganda show was completely impossible to accept, it is terribly sad to see."

Among the athletes who appeared on stage alongside Bolshunov at the rally on March 18 were the Olympic ice dancers Nikita Katsalapov and Victoria Sinitsina, and the swimmer Evgeny Rylov.

Rylov was dropped by his sponsor Speedo for attending and is also under investigation by the International Swimming Federation (FINA).

Speaking with Russian newspaper Sport Express on Saturday, the 25-year-old, who won gold in both the 100 and 200-meter backstroke events at the Tokyo Olympic Games, said he believed he had become the target of a witch hunt due to his success in the pool.

"I think the whole point is that I am the world face of swimming and double the demand on me," he said.

"If it wasn't for me who went on stage at Luzhniki, but for someone else from the swimmers, they might not even pay attention.

"At the Olympics, I attracted increased attention, and now it is riveted to me in all aspects of life."