Russia has been deprived of one sporting event after another in recent days.

Voices are now also being raised to exclude Russian athletes from international competitions.

Minister of Sports Anders Ygeman is one of those who has raised his voice and called for a boycott.

Today, the Norwegian Ski Association also stated that they do not want Russian skiers for their competitions. 

But so far, Russians are getting the go-ahead to participate in rally competitions as well as most other competitions.

That is why Nikolay Gryazin is allowed to drive the Swedish Rally.

And he does it really well.

He is third in WRC2.

SVT Sport met him after special stage 11.

- It's awful to hear all about the war, but I do not want to mix sports and politics.

So it's best not to comment on that, he said then.

Goes towards the second straight podium

Gryazin has had a strong start to the season.

The four-time European champion was third in Monte Carlo and is now on his way to the second straight podium.

Before the afternoon loop of Saturday's stage at the Swedish rally, Gryazin was third, 23 seconds behind leader Andreas Mikelssen and second Ole Christian Veiby.

- It is always even in the Swedish rally because the surface is familiar to everyone who lives here, so it is difficult to compete against them but very good to compare especially during this round where the road is really "flat out", says Gryazin.

The 24-year-old talks about the challenge of driving on snow and ice on stretches that contain both speed and technical challenges.

- You have to be very precise, especially on the slow parts, to take time.

If you make a mistake there, you lose a lot.

On the fast parts you have to be brave, in some turns it goes at 170 (km / h).

So it's good, you work on two different specialties, courage and technology, so it's very fun and gives a lot of experience, says Gryazin.

Ole Christian Veiby on the victory hunt

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Ole Christian Veiby about the victory hunt in WRC2