Ukraine celebrated its third gold medal at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressing his gratitude on social media.
Ukrainian middleweight boxer Oleksandr Khyzhniak secured the gold medal by defeating Kazakhstan’s Nurbek Oralbay 3-2 in an exciting final at Roland Garros.
“Another gold medal for Ukraine at the Olympics in Paris! Boxer Oleksandr Khyzhniak has taken the first place,” Zelenskyy shared in a post after the match.
“Thank you for your strength, your confidence, and for this important victory! We continue to support all our athletes. We cheer for Ukraine, we cheer for Ukrainians!”
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Khyzhniak’s win added to the gold medal tally alongside women’s high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh and women’s fencer Olga Kharlan, making it a total of eight medals for Ukraine at the games so far.
This victory held a special significance for Khyzhniak, as he became Ukraine’s first men’s gold medalist in Paris. His triumph marked a moment of national and personal pride after a heartbreaking defeat at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics when he missed out on gold.
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Since the loss in Tokyo, Khyzhniak has faced the devastation of his nation being invaded, with many of his teammates losing their lives.
Impact of the Ongoing Conflict
Russia’s war against Ukraine, which commenced on February 24, 2022, just after the conclusion of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, has continued for over two years, resulting in significant loss and tragedy.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy listens during his meeting with Roberta Metsola, the president of the European Parliament, in Kyiv, Ukraine, April 1, 2022.
(Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)
With only 140 Ukrainian athletes competing in the Olympics, the smallest contingent in the country’s Summer Games history, the impact of the ongoing conflict is palpable, with hundreds of lives lost during the war.
Remembering Fallen Athletes
In a poignant tribute, a display featuring sports equipment was erected at Parliament Square in London to honor the 487 Ukrainian athletes who lost their lives since the invasion by Russia. Among those remembered were Oleksandr Pielieshenko, a weightlifter from the Rio 2016 Olympics, and Kateryna Diachenko, an 11-year-old rhythmic gymnast tragically killed in March 2022.
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Gold medalist Oleksandr Khyzhniak of Ukraine poses on the podium during the men’s boxing 80-kilogram medal ceremony after the final match on day twelve of the Paris Olympics.
(Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Following Russia’s invasion just days after the 2022 Winter Olympics, the International Olympic Committee deemed the attack a breach of the Olympic truce, prohibiting Russian athletes from representing their nation in Paris. However, they are allowed to compete as “individual neutral athletes.”
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