- Feb 10, 2021
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FIG specifically stated that there needs to be some family tie to the country. You cannot just claim a citizenship, even without previous license.In theory, any country could bestow citizenship on a ex L10, NCAA gymnast with no family links, never lived there, register her for FIG licence and she could compete internationally for them tomorrow.
Belarus gave Dickson and Kwan citizenship just like that. Neither had a FIG license for the US and never competed internationally for the US. The FIG specifically will not allow this any longer.
You CAN move to a country and then claim citizenship, like Karbenenko did.
FIG made specifications to this because of Belarus and Azerbaijan.
Either way, the example mentioned was Trinity Thomas. Which isn’t possible since Thomas already competed for the US. The only way she could even have any attempt to make Paris for another country would be for a top 12 team and even then it would be cutting it close. She would need to establish residency in that country before June 2023. She would not be eligible to file for a license until June 2024.
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