One of Ukraine's most decorated Olympic athletes, Yuri Chaban, has begun auctioning off all of his medals - two gold and a bronze - in hopes of raising funds for the war effort in his country.
"My Olympic medals won't matter if Ukraine can't stand up in this fight for freedom and independence," the two-time Olympic canoe champion told the Associated Press.
Chaban won Olympic gold in the 200 meters in 2012 and 2016, and bronze in the 500 meters in 2008.
SCP Auctions, which is managing the sale, expects the gold medals to fetch $75,000 each.
Chaban in action, photo: AP
"I think a lot of people in the world don't know the extent of the situation in Ukraine," said the 36-year-old Chaban.
"Right now, entire cities in Ukraine are without electricity, hospitals, schools, shops. People are freezing in their apartments and part of my family is trying to live and work in these conditions."
Chaban said the idea to auction his medals came from his compatriot Selva Medvedenko, a basketball player who sold his two championship rings from his time with the Lakers (2001 and 2002) to fund the war effort.
Medvedenko's rings sold for a total of more than $253,000.
Medvedenko
Source of inspiration, photo: Twitter
Since the start of the war in February, Ukrainian athletes have had to train in different countries to prepare for major events.
Last summer, 22 Ukrainian athletes competed at the World Championships in Oregon.
High jumpers Yaroslava Machuchich (silver) and Andrey Protsenko (bronze) won medals.
Chavan said he was "pessimistic" that sports alone could stop the attacks on Ukraine, "but selling the medals of famous athletes could help save many Ukrainian lives, and provide necessary equipment for the army," he said.
"We have to be realistic."
The auction will run until December 10th.
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