Former figure skater who lit Olympic Flame tweeted racist picture of Obamas last year
Irina Rodnina and Vladislav Tretyak light the cauldron during the opening ceremonies. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Former Russian figure skater Irina Rodnina was given the honor of lighting the Olympic flame at Sochi 2014's Opening Ceremony on Friday, but she has started receiving attention for a racist photograph she tweeted last September.
Rodnina tweeted a doctored photo of President Barack Obama and his wife. When asked about it at the time, she said there was nothing wrong with the photo and that it was sent to her by American friends.
"Freedom of speech is freedom of speech, and you should answer for your own hang-ups," Rodnina wrote, via the Guardian.
