27-year-old Karpova has played 24 international matches for Russia and was part of the squad that represented Russia in the European Championship 2018. Russia also qualified for the European Championship 2022 but has been suspended from the tournament.
- I wish that more Russians, Russian athletes as well, would take a stand so that other people who are against wars know that they are not a minority.
You can not just pretend that nothing happens, no more.
The time of silence should be over, she says.
After the European Championships 2018, Nadya Karpova was offered a professional contract in Spain, a country she has stayed in. Living in Spain, Karpova believes, has changed her life.
- I stopped being afraid of certain things.
Like standing up for my opinions for example.
I also understood that no one would judge me for living with a girl, there is no stigma here about being a lesbian, she says.
In Russia, there are strict laws that regulate the freedom of LGBTQ people which, among other things, make it a criminal offense to be "visibly gay in a public place".