With the Olympic Games in full swing, we can all see how much the athletes sacrifice to pursue their goal of being Olympians and, if they can perform at their very best, to win medals. It is a hard and unremitting life.
Now imagine training to perform at the very height of your ability when your country is at war. This is the challenge Ukrainian athletes face, from the gold medal winners in Paris to future Olympians and Paralympians, and to club athletes. It is almost unimaginable for most of us. And it is made worse when they can see athletes from Russia and Belarusia competing.
The Museum of Civilian Voices by the Rinat Akhemtov Foundation has compiled athletes’ stories of their experiences of the war. You can listen to their first-hand accounts of how the war is impacting them. And next time you see a Ukrainian athlete in Paris, remember what is happening at home.
The stories include:
A Paralympian who won silver in the discus in Tokyo, and her husband who is a wheelchair table tennis player, who were forced out of their homes.
A seven-year-old gymnast with Olympic ambitions who now first has to learn to walk with a prosthetic before she can start competing again.
A champion diver who’s father, a boxing coach and international judge, is being held captive by the Russians.
A young jukoda who’s sports hall in Dnipro was bombed by the Russians.
And a football team that has carried on playing despite losing their stadium, training ground and, in most cases, their homes.
These and more athletes’ stories have been published by the Museum of Civilian Voices by the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation. The Museum is an important source of truth about the war, preserving valuable elements of Ukraine’s national memory. It will also serve as a foundation for justice, as well as support and catharsis for those wish to share their stories with the world.
With thanks to Leidar
