Ukraine’s gold medal-winning boxer Oleksandr Khyzhniak gave a military salute to the crowd gathered to celebrate his return to the war-torn country from Paris Olympics.
Khyzhniak, 29, stepped off the special Olympic Express train at Kiev Central Station and greeted fans, friends and family. The athlete from Poltava is also an official of the border guard of Ukraine.
He is the first gold medalist in the 2024 Olympics to give the award to his home country.
“I really dedicate this award to every Ukrainian, to everyone who helped and supported me, who was by my side, cheered for me all over the world,” Khyzhniak said upon his arrival on Saturday.
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP
In the men’s middleweight category, Khyzhniak defeated Nurbek Oralbay of Kazakhstan. Ukraine has also won gold medals in women’s team fencing and women’s high jump.
One star-studded fan, Volodymyr Honchar, 13, was taken to Kiev train station by his mother to welcome his idol and get his boxing glove signed by the Olympic champion.
“His victory will lift the spirits of all Ukrainians, will make us all feel good, will make us all stronger,” Honchar told The Associated Press.
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP
Khyzhniak’s victory and other Ukrainian wins in Paris have lifted the spirits of many Ukrainians in the 2 1/2-year war against Russia. Troops are locked in deadly fighting along the 620-mile border.
Khyzhniak’s home region of Poltava, just 30 miles from Russia, is an area that has been a constant target of Russian airstrikes.
“Every time when I was at the competition or preparing for the competition, when I saw on my phone that air warning was announced in the Poltava region, of course I was worried about Ukraine,” Khyzhniak said. “I was worried about my family and I was hoping that our military would protect us all.”