Oleksandr Khyzhniak, Ukraine's gold medal-winning boxer, returns home and lifts spirits amid war

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — 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 the Paris Olympics.

Stepping out of the special Olympic Express train at Kyiv’s central railway station, Khyzhniak, 29, greeted fans, friends and family. The athlete from Poltava is also a serviceman of Ukraine's border guard.

He's the first gold-medal winner in the 2024 Olympics to bring the award to his home country.

“I truly 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 Saturday.

In the men’s middleweight category, Khyzhniak defeated Nurbek Oralbay from Kazakhstan. Ukraine has also won gold medals in women’s team fencing and the women’s high jump.

A star-struck fan, Volodymyr Honchar, 13, was brought to the Kyiv train station by his mother to welcome his idol and get his boxing glove signed by the Olympic champion.

“His victory will raise the spirits of all Ukrainians, will make us all feel good, will make us all stronger,” Honchar told The Associated Press.

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 combat along the 1000-kilometer (620-mile) border.

Khyzhniak’s home region of Poltava, just 50 kilometers (30 miles) from Russia, is an area that has been a constant target for Russian air attacks.

“Every time while at the competition or preparing for the competition, when I saw on my phone that air alert was announced in the Poltava region, of course I was worried about Ukraine," said Khyzhniak. "I was worried about my family and I hoped that our military would protect all of us.”

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AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games