Canadian snowboarder Michael Lambert wants you to know he's been doing more at the Sochi Olympics than just practicing. He's also noticed that the Games have some pretty big problems.
Lambert is by no means the first athlete to criticize this year's Olympics for its $51-billion cost, construction problems and its host country's anti-gay propaganda law. Openly gay Australian snowboarder Belle Brockhoff told Yahoo Sports she plans to "rip on [Putin's] ass" after she competes.
However, he's the first to express anger about the "bubble" he feels he and other athletes are in while in Sochi.
"I'm a person just as anyone else reading a newspaper," he said Sunday. "Just because I am a part of it (the Games) doesn't mean I ignore it.
Lambert's comments were made to the Olympic News Service after a media panel in which he expressed surprise that no one had any "controversial questions", Postmedia News reports.
He criticized Russia's handling of the event, saying it was far from the "perfect Games" and that the country had spent "ungodly amounts of money" on Olympic infrastructure "and then we are all going to watch it rot over the next 10 years.”
Other athletes have shown support for LGBT rights and freedom of speech with their choice of gear, but Lambert was very frank about the Kremlin's crackdown on protesters and those expressing gay sentiments by saying it "has people suffer and shuts people up."
He also mused on his Instagram feed about the conditions in the Olympic village when he arrived.
We've arrived.. Question is. Do I smile and nod or talk about the truth. No recycling of any kind in the village. Construction quality so poor that windows are cracking, river systems being destroyed, fleets of trucks idling for no reason, a plume of exhaust streaming from the Olympic flame. The furthest thing away from sustainability one could ever imagine. 80% of what is built here will never be used again. Best question of the day. "People say this is the "perfect games" what do you think about that"..... #roadtohapiness
Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a visit to Canada House this weekend. The Canadian Olympic Committee chair paid tribute to the leader in a speech and athletes rushed to get a selfie with him.
We're guessing that Lambert wasn't one of the eager ones.
Gay Athletes At The 2014 Sochi Olympics
Anastasia Bucsis(01 of37)
Open Image ModalBelle Brockhoff(02 of37)
Open Image ModalThe 20-year-old gay Australian snowboarder is also headed to her first Games. While she said she wants to focus on her performance instead of politics, she plans to don merchandise from Principle Six, a clothing company inspired by the Olympic Committee Charter's sixth principle, which states that “any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement." The Committee confirmed this also includes sexual orientation. (credit:(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images))
Ireen Wüst(03 of37)
Open Image ModalSanne Van Kerkhof(04 of37)
Open Image ModalBarbara Jezeršek(05 of37)
Open Image ModalThe Slovenian cross-country skier is openly lesbian. She competed in three events at the last Winter Olympics, but didn't medal. (credit:Barbara Jezeršek/Twitter)
Caitlin Cahow(06 of37)
Open Image ModalBrian Boitano(07 of37)
Open Image ModalBillie Jean King(08 of37)
Open Image ModalJohnny Weir(09 of37)
Open Image ModalThe two-time Olympic figure skater isn't competing in this year's Games, but is headed to Sochi as a skating analyst for the U.S. team. Weir is well-known as an outspoken gay activist, but told the New York Times he'll hold his tongue at the Olympics. He thinks that his presence as a gay athlete is enough. (credit:Getty Images)
Orlando Cruz(10 of37)
Open Image ModalJason Collins(11 of37)
Open Image ModalBrittney Griner(12 of37)
Open Image ModalMegan Rapinoe(13 of37)
Open Image ModalKwame Harris(14 of37)
Open Image ModalJohn Amaechi(15 of37)
Open Image ModalGareth Thomas(16 of37)
Open Image ModalMartina Navratilova(17 of37)
Open Image ModalMatthew Mitcham(18 of37)
Open Image ModalGlenn Burke(19 of37)
Open Image ModalBalian Buschbaum(20 of37)
Open Image ModalJohnny Weir(21 of37)
Open Image ModalBillie Jean King(22 of37)
Open Image ModalHeather Cassils(23 of37)
Open Image ModalGreg Louganis(24 of37)
Open Image ModalTennis Player Renee Richards(25 of37)
Open Image ModalSheryl Swoopes(26 of37)
Open Image ModalThree-time MVP Sheryl Swoopes was the first player to be signed to the WNBA when it was created. Not only was she a star on the court she was one of the first high profile athletes to publicly come out. (credit:AP)
Chris Tina Bruce(27 of37)
Open Image ModalSarah Vaillancourt(28 of37)
Open Image ModalBilly Bean(29 of37)
Open Image ModalWade Davis(30 of37)
Open Image ModalRosie Jones(31 of37)
Open Image ModalRobert Dover(32 of37)
Open Image ModalIlana Kloss(33 of37)
Open Image ModalAmelie Mauresmo(34 of37)
Open Image ModalKye Allums(35 of37)
Open Image ModalEsera Tuaolo(36 of37)
Open Image ModalIan Roberts(37 of37)
Open Image Modal