Yaroslava Mahuchikh’s trademark yellow-and-blue eyeliner, the colors of the Ukrainian flag she has draped herself in, sparkle underneath the brilliant lights of the Stade de France. The excessive leap gold medallist, who broke a 37-year-old world report final month, hugs compatriot Iryna Gerashchenko, the bronze winner.
On the different finish of the sector, Mykhaylo Kohkan, a part of Ukraine’s Nationwide Guard (its navy drive), watches his compatriots run a lap of honour. The hammer-thrower hopes he can also be part of them, his occasion isn’t over but. “(I) had prayed to God, ‘Can I please keep within the medals?’,” he would say later. “I assumed it might be very good if I get the medal additionally, and we might rejoice collectively on this magical Olympic night.”
Kohkan’s effort of 79.39 metres will get him the bronze. Gerashchenko — who, like Kohkan, had completed fourth on the Tokyo Olympics — grins. “We did it! We’re completely happy immediately!”
. Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine celebrates after profitable gold. (Reuters)
Inside this Parisian coliseum, the trio is portray an image of resilience. It’s Ukraine’s most interesting hour on the Paris Olympics, profitable three medals together with a gold. On X, the war-ravaged nation’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy showers reward on the trio: “We’re very proud! Thanks for this end result… Ukrainians know the way to be robust and the way to win.”
On the stadium, the Ukrainians exit the bottom to let the 100m sprinters take centre stage and stroll right into a boring, cramped room the place reporters from shut to 2 dozen nations encompass them. Kohkan has a straightforward smile and oozes pure allure. However a crease seems on his brow when requested if he’ll have to hitch the battlefront now that the Olympics are over. “I don’t know,” he mutters.
Subsequent to him, Geraschchenko breaks down, fearing for her family and friends. “I’ve many buddies who’re preventing now, and who died. It is vitally onerous. They’re very robust… This medal is for them. I might be right here as a result of they’re on the frontline,” she says.
In a quavering voice, Mahuchikh calls the second “unbelievable”, given the circumstances. “In my nation, the Russians killed folks and virtually 500 sportsmen died on this conflict… they’ll by no means compete and rejoice and really feel this environment.”
On the “largest night time” of her life, Mahuchikh’s thoughts continuously goes again to the well-being of her household in Dnipro, her hometown. Dwelling to navy hospitals and rocket factories, Ukraine’s industrial hub has been an everyday goal for the reason that starting of Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Gold medallist Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine celebrates on the rostrum together with her medal. (Reuters)
“Sadly, even at an Olympic Video games, the conflict goes on,” Mahuchikh says. “We’ve had loads of alarms and explosions in my area. It’s actually powerful for us, however we’re preventing on each area. We do our greatest.”
To place it mildly, doing their greatest hasn’t been straightforward.
Among the many nations that had been as soon as part of the Soviet bloc, Ukraine has been one of the best performer on the Olympics after Russia. After they left their properties, paused their lives and began afresh at new bases in new nations, these athletes puzzled if Ukraine’s sporting fortunes would dip.
It hasn’t, at the very least given the scenario. As of Monday afternoon, Ukraine, represented right here by 142 athletes, has six medals, together with two gold — the second gained in fencing. Each medal and each medallist, although, has a narrative to inform.
Iryna Gerashchenko of Ukraine celebrates together with her nationwide flag after profitable bronze. (Reuters)
For the reason that conflict started, a whole lot of sports activities services throughout Ukraine have been destroyed. In Mariupol, the port metropolis that’s now occupied by Russia, an aquatic centre was bombed, forcing diver Stanislav Oliferchyk to change his coaching plans.
In 2023, Valentyn Vozniuk, a observe and area coach who nurtured previous and future generations together with hurdler Anna Rhyzykova — the London Olympics bronze medallist — was amongst 46 folks killed by a missile that hit an condo constructing in Dnipro.
Mahuchikh wakened one February morning in 2022 to a loud bang which signalled that her hometown had develop into a goal of Russian aggression. The explosion was caught on digital camera and “created panic”. The jumper tried to disregard the warning sirens and the blasts round her, however she determined to flee her dwelling. Initially, she moved to a close-by village to dwell together with her coach, the place they might “rush to a basement when the sirens would go off”. Ultimately, on March 6, 2022, Mahuchikh needed to go away her nation. A 3-day, 2,000 km street journey took her to Belgrade the place she continues to dwell.
Her teammate Gerashchenko escaped from Kyiv together with her “husband and canine”, leaving the whole lot else behind, together with her spikes. “Our households (are) in Ukraine, now we have buddies who’re preventing for our nation. I can’t overlook about this,” Mahuchikh says.
Kohkan tries to clarify why he’s enjoying sports activities whereas his buddies and colleagues within the Military are preventing a conflict. It’s a query he’s been wrestling with internally, the hammer thrower admits. He discovered motivation to struggle via sport, which, he says, can be for a “nationwide trigger”.
“I’m extra helpful right here than there,” he says. “I began my profession as an athlete so I understand how to do it. I can do that (apply) as a result of I’m getting ready for the Olympics, to raise our flag and remind those who we nonetheless have conflict (happening) and now we have to do one thing.”
It’s why Mahuchikh additionally wears the yellow-and-blue eyeliner. For her, it isn’t a mode assertion. It’s a easy act of defiance.