Openly gay women's ski jumper Daniela
Iraschko-Stolz of Austria has said that protesting Russia's anti-gay
laws is not a good idea.
“I don't think it's a good idea to
make protests here, no one cares,” Iraschko-Stolz
told the AP on Sunday.
The 30-year Iraschko-Stolz married her
parter Isabel Stolz last year and is considered a gold medal favorite
in the women's normal hill.
The run-up to Friday's opening of the
Winter Olympics in Sochi has been marred by Russia's “gay
propaganda” law, which prohibits the promotion of gay rights in
public spaces.
But Iraschko-Stolz insisted she was in
Sochi to compete as an athlete.
“I am here as a sportswoman,” she
said. “I always say I'm together with my woman now and don't have
any problems, not in Russia or with the Austrian federation. Ten
years ago it was different.”
She added that “to jump pretty good
is also a statement.”