‘On the roadsides there were shot up cars where people had been killed': Facing war, death and destruction ahead of Olympics

Title: Ukrainian Wrestler Prepares Mentally and Physically for Paris Olympics Amid Ongoing Conflict with Russia #

As she trains in Kyiv, Ukrainian wrestler Iryna Kolyadenko is preparing for the Paris Olympics while keeping the ongoing war with Russia in mind. Facing an existential challenge as much as an athletic one, Kolyadenko aims to prevent Russian athletes from winning medals and plans to avoid any engagement with them. Ukraine’s sports ministry has issued guidelines for their athletes competing in Paris, including refraining from joint events with Russian and Belarusian athletes. Kolyadenko’s determination to compete is fueled by the destruction caused by Russian troops, as she experienced firsthand. Despite the challenging conditions, Ukrainian athletes continue to train and hope to represent their country proudly at the games.