Russian swimmer living in "constant tension" over obsessed fan’s creepy messages

Russian artistic swimming star Varvara Subbotina has admitted she is living in "constant tension" after being bombarded with private messages by an obsessed fan.

Subbotina, 20, is already a two-time world champion and three-time European champion, and is very active on social media with more than 54,000 people following her Instagram account.

However, the Moscow-born star has now spoken about the downside of her fame, revealing that she'd been hounded by one very persistent fan online.

“Now more people have reacted to this,” she said, after sharing examples of the private messages she'd been sent.

“I shared a similar story about a year ago, I was told that ‘everything’s fine, someone's just kidding.’ But now I understand that this is overstepping the boundaries, I really start to worry.

“A lot of people have written to me about who I can turn to, my acquaintances have friends, relatives, lawyers, who can help with this."

However, as things stand Subbotina is unable to pursue any kind of legal action.

“We discussed it, but I was told: ‘It won’t work to start a case against this person, because there are no direct threats as such.

“The fact that I shared this, that so many people supported me, made me happy, it made me feel better.

"But until the whole situation is resolved, I'll remain in constant tension.”

Subbotina regularly appears in polls and lists referring to Russia's 'most beautiful' sports stars, but says this can prompt negative comments as well as positive ones.

"Before, it was wow for me, but now I react quite calmly, at some moments I even try not to pay attention,” she said.

“When I appear top of some list, on the one hand, a flurry of criticism immediately appears, on the other – enthusiastic comments.

“I try not to pay attention because it distracts me. When there is a flurry of criticism, it starts to annoy me, it's hard.”

And she added she has now grown tired of suggestions that her appearance equates to less than natural.

“For three years now, I'm already tired of telling them, but you can’t prove it to people. I haven’t resorted to plastic surgery, and I don’t plan to do that in the near future,” she insisted.

“They criticise me that I behave incorrectly for a synchronised swimmer. How can you say that about a girl, just seeing her from a photograph?”

Source: Read Full Article