Ivan Skobrev, a Russian speed skater who took a bronze and a silver at the Vancouver Olympics, dismissed as "complete nonsense" media reports that he was going to compete for the U.S. at the 2014 Games in Sochi.
Norwalk Citizen on Friday quoted Skobrev, whose parents and brother live in the U.S., as saying that "if I have the chance to be American and let my family be Americans I will switch it right away".
"The next Olympic Games are in Sochi, Russia, so of course I want a gold... Of course I would love to get the gold and be a real hero. And of course I will try to be American before as well," the Russian athlete was quoted as saying.
"Publications about my wish to compete for the U.S. at the 2014 Sochi Olympics are untrue. It is complete nonsense... Only several months ago I was Russia's flag bearer at the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games in Vancouver... How can I compete for the U.S. team after that?" Skobrev said in a statement published on the official website of the Russian Skating Union.
The Union's president, Alexei Kravtsov, told RIA Novosti the report came as a surprise for him.
"I contacted Ivan, and the told me that he will compete for Russia and has no doubts about that," he said.
Skobrev, who won Russia's first medal at Vancouver Olympics, was awarded The Order of Merit for the Motherland in March.
