Myanmar swimmer withdraws from Tokyo Games as protest to ongoing coup

July 13, 2021

Win Htet Oo, one of Myanmar’s top swimmers, withdrew from consideration to compete in the Tokyo Olympics as a protest against the ongoing coup happening in the Southeast Asian country.

The withdrawal: The 27-year-old swimmer made the announcement on Facebook on April 10 after the military took over the government in February, reported Swimming World Magazine.

“I do not wish to participate in the Tokyo Games under the stewardship of a NOC (National Olympic Committee) that is tied to a regime that continues to inflict suffering on my people,” he said.
In his post, he drew attention to the “indiscriminate killings” in the country and paid tribute to Ma Kyal Sin, also known as Angel, the 19-year-old Taekwondo practitioner who was killed during one of Myanmar’s bloodiest days.
“She went out there, defended her community every day until she was struck down,” he said. “And I’m inspired by her. I’m fortunate that I can live in Australia but they’re there every day being tortured by the military.”
He described the Myanmar Olympic Committee as a “puppet organization” for the regime and claimed that the International Olympic Committee’s acceptance of it “recognizes the legitimacy of a murderous regime.”

Other details: Last month, Win Htet Oo called out the IOC and its President Thomas Bach, asking for the organization to expel the MOC from the Olympic Movement.

“Quite simply, this letter is about keeping genocide out of sport,” he wrote.
The swimmer also organized a petition via Change.org, which has received more than 900 signatures as of this writing.
Although he has already withdrawn from the Olympics, Win Htet Oo said he still follows a training program.

Featured Image via South China Morning Post

Share this Article