Ukrainian Veterans Compete in International Fitness Race

Dmytro Bykhovchenko, who lost both legs in the Battle of Avdiivka, meticulously plans his routes and accessibility needs for everyday life. This month, he and fellow Ukrainian war veterans participated in the HYROX fitness competition in Valencia, Spain, a challenging event combining running with intensive workouts.

Bykhovchenko, 30, completed the course by maneuvering in his wheelchair and performing floor exercises. He described sport as a vital tool for managing the mental and moral toll of his experiences, helping him to focus on positivity.

"Sport just makes my days easier," he 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."

The participation of amputee athletes in the disabled category of HYROX marked a significant step in their recovery processes. For many, including those with multiple amputations, the competition served as a way to demonstrate the resilience of Ukrainian veterans to a global audience.

"It means a lot to be here and show the world what a veteran of the Russia-Ukraine war is," said Oleh Tserkovnyy, an endurance athlete and teammate. "We want our actions to inspire the world."

Trainers volunteered their time to help athletes prepare for the event. Yasia Shandrii, a fitness trainer in Kyiv who worked with Bykhovchenko, noted the variety of amputations among the team, ranging from double lower-limb amputations to single-leg and arm amputations.

Oleksandr Dashko, whose left leg was amputated due to a combat injury, shared that sports offered a crucial respite from the pervasive focus on the war in Ukraine. "Every meeting with your friends is about the war. The news on Instagram is about the war. The war is everywhere," Dashko said. "When I’m doing sports, when you work hard, not just during training but for several hours afterward, you forget about the war."

The veterans' participation in the international race highlights their ongoing recovery and their commitment to raising awareness for wounded veterans.

AP writer Derek Gatopoulos in Kyiv, Ukraine contributed to this report.