"I recently saw what Irina Rodnina has to say about the war. My God! I think: 'You are a three-time Olympic champion, you are a hero of heroes, an outstanding figure skater, perhaps the best in the history of figure skating. [...] You were a symbol of the Soviet Union.' [...] She is a 10-time world champion, 11-time European champion, a great athlete, a three-time Olympic champion. [...] You left the Soviet Union when 'perestroika' began, moved to the United States, you gave birth there, you got married there, you lived there for a long time, you essentially became an American (I don't know if she has U.S. citizenship, but they say she does), yet it seems you haven't earned any laurels," said Gordon.
He reminded that Rodnina returned to Russia and became a member of the State Duma, and that "everything is fine for her."
"The war has begun. What is she rambling about? You're a Jew, your mother is from Ukraine, a Ukrainian Jew. You lived so many years in the U.S. What are you babbling about, you idiot? So aggressive too! This is how they are. Shame and disgrace altogether," Gordon believes.
The journalist also mentioned another Russian athlete, former hockey player and current State Duma deputy Vyacheslav Fetisov, who, like Rodnina, lived in the U.S. but now supports Russian aggression.
"How do they look at themselves in the mirror? How can they not feel ashamed, simply, when they are alone with their reflection? Idiots. Disgusting. Everyone who has said nasty things about Ukraine, everyone who has glorified war – be cursed. No matter who you were in your past life," stated Gordon.
Rodnina's response to Gordon was published on January 21 by the Russian outlet "Abzatc Media".
"I think of that fool… This is their foolish mentality, their position. What dirt? That Fetisov and I worked in America – is that dirt? He can say whatever he likes; that is his slave mentality. He makes conclusions that have nothing to do with me or Fetisov. The names Rodnina and Fetisov cannot be compared to the name Gordon," she said.