Aug 4, 2021 - World

Belarus sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya departs Tokyo for Vienna

Rebecca Falconer

Belarus athlete Krystsina Tsimanouskaya (C) walks through Terminal 1 before boarding her Vienna-bound flight at Narita International Airport in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, outside Tokyo on August 4 — Belarus athlete Krystsina Tsimanouskaya (C) at Narita International Airport in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, outside Tokyo, before boarding her Vienna-bound flight on Aug. 4. Photo: Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images

Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya left Japan on Wednesday, aboard a plane bound for Vienna after refusing national team orders to fly home amid concerns for her safety.

Driving the news: The 24-year-old Olympian had sought refuge at the Polish embassy in Tokyo, where she was granted a humanitarian visa. But she changed flights at the last minute and boarded an Austrian Airlines flight for Vienna, an airport official told reporters.

She had spent two nights in Poland's embassy before departing for Austria's capital.

The big picture: Tsimanouskaya refused national team orders to board a flight home after Belarus officials took her to Tokyo's Haneda airport Sunday following her criticism of Belarusian coaches.

She told AP earlier Tuesday that officials from her country made it clear that she "would definitely face some form of punishment" if she returned home.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

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Belarus sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya departs Tokyo for Vienna

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