Sweden’s Emma Green Tregaro painted her fingernails in the colours of the rainbow for Thursday’s high jump qualifying at the world championships in a silent show of support for gays in connection with Russia’s new anti-gay law.
Green Tragaro posted a picture of her fingernails on social network Instagram before reaching Saturday’s final with 1.92m, adding hashtags including #pride and #moscow2013.
“Sports is about respecting each other, so I thought it was a nice gesture,” Sweden’s Aftonbladed paper quoted her as saying.
Compatriot sprinter Moa Hjelmer, who went out in the 200m heats, made the same protest in the rainbow colours, which appear on the pride flag, the symbol of gay pride.
Russia has enacted a federal law that bans propaganda of “non-traditional sexual orientation” to minors. The law stipulates that foreigners can be arrested and deported if convicted of violating it.
The law has led to worldwide protests and some activists have called for a boycott the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
