Biathlon Star Critiques IOC President: A Call for Leadership Change

Biathlon Star Critiques IOC President

Sebastian Samuelsson is once again taking a strong stand against Thomas Bach, the outgoing president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Swedish biathlon sensation hasn't held back in expressing his opinions about Bach's leadership.

Samuelsson has delivered a scathing assessment of Bach, labeling his presidency as ineffective. In a statement reported by the Sweden Herald, he remarked, "Thomas Bach was a weak president. I'm looking forward to someone new."

The biathlete's concerns stem particularly from Bach's handling of two major issues: the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine since February 2022 and the recently uncovered doping scandal involving Russian athletes.

An Unwavering Critique of Bach

Samuelsson has taken issue with what he describes as Bach's "unduly weak stance towards Russia, particularly in relation to the war and the doping allegations." The 27-year-old believes that the IOC president has not appropriately addressed these significant issues, asserting that he appears indifferent to the concerns expressed by active athletes.

This is not the first time Samuelsson has criticized the IOC president; two years ago, he branded Bach the "best friend of the Russians" after Bach mentioned that discussions were underway to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to return to international competitions.

A Long-Awaited Departure

Thomas Bach is set to step down from his role in March 2025, concluding a twelve-year tenure leading the IOC. Samuelsson welcomed this decision back in October 2023 on social media platform X, stating, "Twelve years is twelve too many. Enough with Bach's leadership."

One potential successor is former British middle-distance runner Sebastian Coe, who currently serves as president of the International Athletics Federation. Samuelsson expressed his support for Coe, mentioning, "From what I’ve heard and know, he seems to be a good candidate. He has done a lot for athletics and has been tough on the Russians, being very clear about the doping issue."