Americans play wrong anthem for Russian gold medal-winning wrestler
Russia’s Roman Vlasov claimed another world championship in Greco-Roman wrestling in the 75-kg weight class last week in Las Vegas, but his enjoyment of the accomplishment was tempered by an anthem mix up, according to RT.com.
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RT.com reports that the organizers played “Patrioticheskaya Pesnya,” which was briefly the country’s anthem in the 1990’s before Vladimir Putin reinstated the Soviet-era anthem.
Vlasov looked confused on the podium, and when the mix-up was noticed just under a minute into the ceremony, the 2012 Olympic gold medal winner let officials know he would not be leaving the podium until the official song had played, RT.com reported.
“I didn’t immediately realize what anthem was playing. But when the music stopped, I told the organizers I wouldn’t budge from the spot until I heard the real Russian anthem,” he said.
“We bust our backs all year round for this moment. I would have stood there until my legs gave out!”
The proper song was eventually played, giving the champion and his homeland their hard-earned moment in the spotlight.
