"On a bitterly cold, snow-covered Boxing Day in Dnipro, I met one of Ukraine's true national icons: Yaroslava Maguchikh, a world and Olympic record holder in the high jump. It was a quiet meeting, far from stadium lights and podiums, but in many ways it carried more meaning than any medal ceremony. Athletics in Ukraine has not escaped the effects of Russia's full-scale invasion. Training schedules are dictated by air-raid sirens and the availability of safe spaces."
"And yet, Ukrainian athletics has not collapsed. It has adapted. Coaches improvise sessions between alerts. Athletes train outdoors in freezing conditions or in borrowed facilities. Many young competitors carry trauma that would normally end sporting careers before they even begin. Still, Ukraine continues to produce world-class performances. That resilience is not accidental - it reflects a broader national refusal to surrender identity, culture, or ambition."
Yaroslava Maguchikh, a world and Olympic record holder in the high jump, trained and met amid harsh winter conditions in Dnipro. Athletics in Ukraine faces disrupted schedules dictated by air-raid sirens and the loss or destruction of nearly 800 sports facilities, leaving key training hubs unusable. Approximately 590 athletes and coaches have been killed, with others missing, captive, or serving on the front lines, creating profound psychological and practical barriers to training, especially for youth. Coaches and athletes improvise sessions in borrowed or outdoor locations, and Ukrainian competitors continue to produce world-class results, reflecting national resilience and refusal to surrender identity, culture, or ambition. This context informs debates over allowing athletes to represent states engaged in aggression.
Read at London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
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