World record holder faces backlash after posing with Russian flag

Last week, ultrarunner Ivan Zaborskii of Russia made history at the 2025 GOMU 6-Day World Championship in Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, France, running 650.920 miles (1,047.554 km) to set a new world record. But the milestone was quickly overshadowed by images that surfaced of Zaborskii holding the Russian flag, a gesture that ignited immediate backlash in the ultrarunning community.

Zaborskii’s feat narrowly surpassed the previous record of 649.66 miles set by Matthieu Bonne, but while the numbers were historic, the symbolism in the photos proved even more charged.

The flag that crossed a line

After the event, Ukrainian athlete Viktoriia Nikolaienko-Bryantseva publicly expressed her distress over the display on social media. For many, especially those from countries affected by ongoing conflict, national symbols are anything but neutral. The presence of the Russian flag at an international championship, especially one where Russian athletes are only permitted to compete under a neutral designation, was seen by Nikolaienko-Bryantseva and others as a violation of the spirit of the competition.

The Global Organization of Multiday Ultramarathoners (GOMU), which sanctions the event, quickly issued a statement acknowledging the incident. “We want to recognize the significance of the Russian flag for Ukrainians; as Viktoriia noted, it is more than just fabric,” said Trishul Cherns, the president of GOMU and a long-time ultrarunning figure. “We deeply regret the pain and outrage this has justifiably caused.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Trust, neutrality and the role of sport

GOMU emphasized that Russian athletes are allowed to compete, but only under a neutral flag and with a clear expectation: no display of nationalistic or political symbols. “We expect all athletes competing under this neutral flag to honour the trust we have placed in them,” Cherns continued. “This was a breach of that trust.”

While organizers admitted they failed to act swiftly in the moment, they described the atmosphere at the time as one of collective focus on the incredible human achievements unfolding—achievements that briefly made divisions feel less important. Still, GOMU has pledged to ensure such an incident does not happen again, stating they are prepared to take corrective action, including possible disqualification, in the future.

American woman smashes 6-day world record (with 600+ miles)

An unforgettable race, for many reasons

The 2025 edition of the GOMU 6-Day World Championship was unforgettable for more than just its controversy. American runner Megan Eckert, a teacher and coach from New Mexico, became the first woman to surpass the 600-mile mark in a six-day race, finishing with an astounding 603.156 miles (970.685 km). Her record, like Zaborskii’s, is pending official ratification.