Russia destroyed or damaged some 500 Paralympic sports facilities in Ukraine, forcing its athletes to prepare for the Paris games in precarious conditions. However, the team could finish better than in Tokyo 2020. ‘Euronews’ asked some athletes how they did it.
Ukraine stands firm in the top 10 of the medal table paralympian despite two years of guerra that have forced athletes to train in brutal conditions. Some survived the occupation in Mariupol y Kherson or they stayed homeless in Donbas y Zaporizhiaareas devastated by Russian aggression.
Under threat of constant bombingdozens had no alternative but leave the country. More than 70% of the others decided to stay and train in Ukraine. ‘Euronews’ spoke to some of those who remained in Ukraine to find out what it is like to prepare for the Paralympic Games in a country devastated by war.
The constant sound of bombs
When the guerra in February 2022 and Odessa was subjected to intense bombardment, the long jumper Oleksandr Lytvynenko He immediately left the city for fear that it would be occupied. He moved to a town without any equipment, not even sneakers.
“There was no infrastructure,” he tells ‘Euronews’. “I trained at a local playground. The kids looked at me like I was an alien and laughed.”
Due to frequent power outages, there was no electricity or air conditioning. In the hottest months, there were days with temperatures reaching 45°C. The nights were no better. Lytvynenko went to bed under the incessant noise of the bombs.
“I couldn’t sleep. Every night was like that. And in the morning I had to get up to train and do my work to prepare for the Paralympic Games,” he said.
Russian athletes “call us Nazis”
Despite two years of training in hellish conditions, Lytvynenko managed to win a bronze medal at the Paris Paralympic Games. However, he’s a little disappointed, he said. In the competition, finished behind Russian athlete Evgenii Torsunov.
Lytvynenko explained that There is acrimony between Ukrainian and Russian athletes in the Paralympic Village.
Russia and Belarus are excluded from the Olympic and Paralympic Games due to the war in Ukraine. However, athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport can compete under bandera neutral.
“They call us Nazis when we cross paths”Lytvynenko said, referring to Russian athletes. “They provoke us, hoping to get reactions on camera. They are not neutral at all”.
‘Euronews’ contacted the International Paralympic Committee to comment on the accusations. She stated that, at the moment, she has not received any complaints from Ukraine’s NPC, the country’s Paralympic Committee, with supporting evidence.
Life goes on for war amputees
Anton Kola swimmer from Dnipro, said that not once, but twice sports facilities were seriously damaged over there. During the bombing, he was taking a walk outdoors with his son. After, He moved 30 km from the city to train and won one bronze medal and another of plata at the Paris Games.
“I was trying to be strong,” he said. “I wanted to be strong for our soldiers.”
Leaving Dnipro when the Paralympic Games are over is not an optionalthough the city is still under bombardment.
“I will go back there. I love my city. I have to be there,” he told ‘Euronews’. “Now I help war amputees in their rehabilitation,” she said, since he wants “show them that life goes on even after that”.
