A long road to a medalist Ukrainian

Earlier they won medals in track and field for their war-torn country. Mahuchikh won gold while Geraschenko and Khokhan won bronze each. All three players cannot reach their country directly from Paris.

They left their country after the Russian invasion. Geraschenko immediately returned home. Now how will she return to her home? She will go to Vienna from Paris. Then he will take another plane from Vienna to Moldova. Then a bus ride to Kiev, also 13 to 14 hours. She says, "This journey is definitely not easy." Nothing is easy for some Fani Utreni these days.

But they are also supported by World Athletics President Sebastian Coe. Not only that, the sport's highest federation has maintained its strict policy against Russia. In February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. After that, the federation did not allow Russia to participate in any international athletics competition. What a sweet coincidence, the same President Kole Mahuchikh and Geraschenko wore medals around their necks.

Mahuchikh says, “He congratulated me and told me that this job is difficult. But we managed to win the medal with hard work.'' A month before that, Sevastin Utren had visited. He said that he has full support for Ukraine. Geraschenko says, 'He has been very brave. Otherwise, many people don't want to come to Ukraine.'