By Fatma Younis
Ukrainian war veterans, including athletes who have lost limbs in combat, took part in a grueling HYROX fitness competition in Valencia, Spain, this month, using the event to support their recovery and raise awareness of the challenges facing wounded veterans.
Amputee athletes test endurance in international race
The competition combines eight 1-kilometer runs with eight demanding workouts such as sled pushes, rowing, weighted carries and sandbag lunges. Amputee athletes competed in the event's disabled category. Among them was Dmytro Bykhovchenko, 30, who lost both legs during the Battle of Avdiivka three years ago when a Russian drone dropped an explosive into his trench. Bykhovchenko completed the course, wheeling himself around the track and lowering himself to the ground for floor exercises.
Sport as mental relief and public message
“Sport just makes my days easier,” Bykhovchenko told The Associated Press. “Mentally and morally, it really helps relieve my head, not to think about the bad things and generally look at life more positively.” His teammate, endurance athlete Oleh Tserkovnyy, said the event was an opportunity to show the world what a veteran of the Russia-Ukraine war looks like and to inspire others. Tserkovnyy, who now helps veterans recover from serious injuries, shouted encouragement as Bykhovchenko worked through the circuits.
Training and distraction from war
Fitness trainer Yasia Shandrii in Kyiv worked with Bykhovchenko ahead of the competition, noting the team includes a variety of amputations. Training partner Oleksandr Dashko, who lost his left leg in combat, said sports provide a welcome distraction from the omnipresent war. “When I’m doing sports, when you work hard, not just during training but for several hours afterward, you forget about the war,” Dashko said.
