Elite swimmer Mykhailo Romanchuk doesn't know if his father was able to see him winning a medal for Ukraine at the swimming world championships.
Romanchuk's father is fighting in the east of Ukraine, where pockets of resistance are still denying Russia full military control of the region almost four months after it unleashed its invasion.
바카라He's in a hot spot and it's a hard time,바카라 Romanchuk said after taking bronze in the men's 800-meter freestyle race on Tuesday.
Romanchuk doesn't dare talk to his dad out of fear his father's location could be tracked through the call.
바카라It's not possible for them to join the network because the Russians can search everything,바카라 Romanchuk said.
바카라But every morning he sends me (a message) that he is OK.바카라
The 25-year-old Romanchuk 바카라 who still intends to race the men's 1500, then the 10K and 5K races in open water at the worlds 바카라 almost never made it to Budapest.
바카라My mind was to go to the war to defend my home,바카라 said Romanchuk, who spent 10 days agonizing with his wife and family over the best course of action after Russia invaded his country on Feb. 24.
바카라We decided that I cannot do anything with the gun. For me, it's better to continue training, to do everything that I do best," said Romanchuk, who won bronze in the 800 and silver in the 1500 at the Tokyo Olympics last year.
바카라With my swimming, I can tell all the world about the situation in Ukraine.바카라
As training facilities were destroyed by the war, Romanchuk was invited by German swimmer Florian Wellbrock 바카라 who finished second behind American Bobby Finke in the 800 바카라 to come join him in Germany to train.
Romanchuk and Wellbrock embraced after finishing 1-2 in qualifying for Tuesday's race. But Finke's strong finish prevented a repeat in the final. Romanchuk finished 0.69 seconds behind Finke.
Romanchuk said he was both 바카라proud and disappointed바카라 of his third place. He said his medal proves 바카라that Ukrainians will fight to the end, it doesn't matter what the situation.바카라
Swimmers from Russia and its ally Belarus have been excluded from the championships. Romanchuk said he doesn't know how he would have reacted if they hadn't been.
바카라My reaction could be maybe aggressive, I don't know,바카라 said Romanchuk, who referred to Olympic backstroke champion Evgeny Rylov appearing at a pro-war rally in Moscow.
바카라Inside of me, I was ready to go and to kill him,바카라 he said of Rylov. 바카라But before he was a good friend. Before. But everything changed.바카라
Romanchuk spoke of the destruction Russia has caused in his country, the people killed, the lives shattered.
It makes it hard for him to focus on swimming.
바카라Especially in the beginning when I moved to Germany to join the group. It was hard because mentally you are in the war and you are sleeping just three or four hours because you are always reading the news,바카라 Romanchuk said.
바카라It was so hard in the beginning, but then you understand that all you can do is to swim, to train, to represent your country.바카라
For the freshly minted medalist, it's a time to feel proud.
바카라I'm so proud of all the people in Ukraine. This is all I can say. I'm proud of the people, of the government, the president. I'm so proud of them," Romanchuk said.
"And I'm really happy to be Ukrainian.바카라
