Gold medalist Yaroslava Mahuchikh celebrates her win within the girls’s excessive soar ultimate on the Paris Olympic Video games, on a day when Ukraine gained three medals. Ukrainian athletes are dedicating their victories to the Ukrainian individuals who face a grinding invasion by Russia.
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PARIS — As Russia’s invading military grinds ahead in jap Ukraine, carving a path of destruction, Ukrainian athletes say they’re utilizing the Summer season Video games in Paris to point out their nation’s energy and resilience.
“It’s all about successful medals for our nation, for Ukraine, for our defenders,” mentioned Yaroslava Mahuchikh, from Dnipro, Ukraine, after successful Olympic gold within the girls’s excessive soar ultimate.
“Due to them, we have now the chance to be right here, to guard our titles and to guard our nation on observe and to point out the most effective of us all,” she mentioned.
Ukrainians competing within the Paris Video games have already gained two gold, two silver, and three bronze medals.
It is an astonishing efficiency given the savage combating on the entrance strains and common Russian rocket assaults that hit strike throughout Ukraine.
Mykhaylo Kokhan, additionally from Dnipro, gained bronze within the hammer throw Sunday, a day when Ukrainians scored three of their Olympic medals.
Olga Kharlan, Yuliia Bakastova, Olena Kravatska and Alina Komashchuk of Ukraine have fun following their gold medal win within the girls’s saber finals.
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“What a fantastic evening for Ukraine, for Ukrainian folks, for our staff,” he mentioned. “Our folks lastly have pleased time, they’ll cheer us, and so they can have fun this with us. Not to consider the warfare for someday.”
Olympic medals a logo of hope in wartime
A survey by the British authorities concluded that just about 5 hundred Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed by Russian forces because the full-scale invasion started in 2022. One other 4,000 Ukrainian athletes are unable to compete in sport as a result of they’re participating within the warfare effort.
“With solely 140 athletes from Ukraine competing at this yr’s Olympic Video games in Paris, this marks the smallest illustration ever in Ukraine’s summer season Olympic historical past,” the British assertion mentioned.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has left lots of of athletes and coaches lifeless. Due to the devastating warfare, Ukraine is fielding its smallest Summer season Olympic staff ever, however athletes have nonetheless gained seven medals in Paris.
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Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in determined want of excellent information as the warfare drags on, has trumpeted the medal victories for his nation. “We’re very proud!” Zelensky posted on social media. “Ukrainians know be sturdy and win.”
Ukrainians again residence say they’re watching. Mykhaylo Minkin, an structure pupil, mentioned he went to a big-screen broadcast of the competitors in a park in Kyiv. “It was very cool. The youngsters watched, we watched. It was such a unity of Ukrainians,” he mentioned.
“It actually takes my breath away once I see Ukrainian flags on huge screens,” mentioned Svitlana Sapunovska, who additionally research structure. “The entire world nonetheless sees Ukraine, sees that we’re very sturdy.”
Russia’s Olympic position collapses
Russian athletes, in the meantime, have nearly no presence right here in Paris. Whereas some ethnic Russians have gained Olympic medals competing for different nations, no opponents representing Moscow have gained gold, silver or bronze.
Ukrainian athletes take three extra medals on the Olympic Video games in Paris.
Yaroslava Mahuchikh wins gold and Iryna Gerashchenko wins bronze in excessive soar. Mykhaylo Kokhan earns bronze in hammer throw.
We’re very proud!Thanks for this outcome. Ukrainians know be sturdy… pic.twitter.com/k7ackVxn5P
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 4, 2024
The flying of the Russian flag and the taking part in of Russia’s nationwide anthem are banned at these Summer season Video games, partly due to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Russian athletes who publicly supported the warfare had been denied eligibility by the Worldwide Olympic committee.
That end result represents a surprising humiliation for President Vladimir Putin, who as soon as made Russian involvement within the Olympic Video games a nationwide precedence. A decade in the past, his regime spent billions to host the Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Ukrainian Svetlana Sapunovska mentioned it is correct that Russians are pariahs on the Olympics: “It’s karma that they don’t obtain something.”
Mykhaylo Kokhan, the bronze medal-winner in hammer throw, mentioned victories in Paris for Ukraine are candy, however he added that celebrations can be completely different this yr. Earlier than the warfare, Kokhan had a popularity for partying after huge wins.
“Not this time, not throughout this robust time for Ukraine,” he mentioned. “I will reply to the messages [of congratulations] which I acquired, and that’s it.”
NPR producer Polina Lytvynova contributed reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine.
