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Grigory Vovchinsky on his way to gold
Photo: ISSEI KATO / REUTERS
Ukraine's athletes won seven medals, including three gold medals, on the first day of the Winter Paralympics in Beijing, topping the medal table.
Grigory Vowchinsky immediately had tears in his eyes at the finish.
After his run of gold, the Ukrainian accepted the congratulations of his defeated opponents, then the 33-year-old threw himself into a marathon of interviews.
Previously, Zhangjiakou's most sought-after athlete had won the first of three gold medals for his home country in the standing class biathlon sprint.
"My gold medal is for peace in Ukraine, for the people of Ukraine and for a world without war," Vovchinsky told the Sports Information Service.
A war of aggression by Russia has been raging in his homeland for over a week.
Many of the 20 Ukrainian athletes in Beijing narrowly escaped the war.
"I think about the war all the time," Vovchinsky admitted, then a tear disappeared under his sodden mask.
“A lot of people are dying, it's a catastrophe.
Please stop this war,” he said.
The four-time Paralympics participant, who grew up not far from the heavily contested city of Cherson, assured his family is safe.
Vovchinsky's victory heralded a triumph for the Ukrainians.
Shortly afterwards, Oxana Schyschkowa outperformed everyone in the women's visually impaired class, while Vitaly Lukianenko, Olexandr Kasik and Dmitro Suiarko brought the men's triple victory to the end of the first day of competition at the Winter Games in China.
"I would like to dedicate this medal to the people who protect our cities," said Lukianenko.
In the Paralympic movement, the delegation of Ukraine receives a lot of support.
After their arrival, the Ukrainian bus was taken to the villages under police protection. At the opening ceremony on Friday, the German team, among others, showed their solidarity by taking off their caps and waving the peace sign in the air.
"This is so important for Ukraine and for me, thank you very much," Vovchinsky said.
The Ukrainians themselves, before entering the National Stadium in Beijing, carried a banner that read 'Stop the war!
Peace for Ukraine«.
Some of the delegation members had tears in their eyes as they sang Ukrainian songs.
"We don't understand what's happening right now," said Vowchinsky, who was repeatedly hugged by team members from other nations.
Russian and Belarusian athletes were banned from the Games this week by the International Paralympic Committee because of the invasion, for which Belarus was a key theater.
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