The teenager's family moved to the country when he was four. He is a successful swimmer, but he cannot represent his country of residence in international competitions as he has been granted citizenship. One of the most popular right-wing politicians complains that while offenders quickly gain citizenship without any conditions, an athlete who would bring glory to the country in competitions cannot.

BMFTV news television has recently shed light on a shocking anomaly. The French channel interviewed the 16 year-old Russian-born swimmer who still has not received citizenship despite having lived in France since he was four.

16 year-old Nice resident Michel Arkhangelsky has been trying to become a citizen of France for a year and a half, but has not received a decision on his application to this day.

The boy told the interviewer that he has been training in Nice for ten years, he has learnt the language and his friends are all French. The country, however, means more than just a language to him, but a culture and a set of values he identifies with and wants to represent internationally.

Michel is currently one of the best backstroke swimmers in France, yet his results are not taken into account because he does not have citizenship. He says, if he finishes first in a competition, the French national with the best time will join him on the top step of the podium, just as if he were not there. Whatever result he achieves, a Frenchman will always take his place, especially if he sets a French national record. Michel says that on the one hand it motivates him to break records and prove he can do more, but on the other, it makes him disappointed because his striving is to no avail.

? „Quelle que soit la place que je fais, un Français va quand même la prendre”: Michel Arkhangelsky, nageur de l’Olympic Nice natation explique sa frustration de battre des records dans le vide puisqu’il n’a pas encore la nationalité française pic.twitter.com/bwnA4gQuhP

— BFM Nice Côte d’Azur (@BFMCotedazur) January 24, 2022

The teen’s coach, Fabrice Pellerin, told the poral that they have approached the sports authorities to allow Michel to represent France in international competitions once he is granted citizenship, but the administrative process is particularly complicated.

? Il est arrivé de Russie en France á l’âge de 4 ans et s’entraîne depuis dix ans á l’Olympic Nice natation, Michel Arkhangelsky pourrait représenter la France dans les prochaines compétitions internationales mais il attend encore sa naturalisation pic.twitter.com/H71zBhOjF6

— BFM Nice Côte d’Azur (@BFMCotedazur) January 24, 2022

Still, they are hopeful that the matter will soon be resolved and the young swimmer will be able to compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris representing France and fulfilling his sole desire to bring glory to the county as a Frenchman.

One of the most popular opposition politicians, Marine Le Pen, has also commented on the case of the young athlete, pointing out on Twitter that while citizenship is regularly granted without any criteria, sometimes even to criminals, it is denied to an athlete who has achieved top podium results and dreams of competing in French colours. The politician said it was high time for common sense to prevail.

On donne la nationalité française á tour de bras sans aucun critère, y compris á des délinquants, mais on la refuse á un jeune sportif qui accumule les podiums et rêve de porter les couleurs de notre pays. Il est vraiment temps de retrouver du bon sens ! https://t.co/PIVR6xxT35

— Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) January 24, 2022