Paralympics 2024: An emotional reunion in the heart of Paris

The 2024 Paralympics will not only be a place for athletes to compete but also a place to witness emotional reunions.

Brilliant fireworks display at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Illustration photo: THX/TTXVN

The conflict has scattered millions of Ukrainians around the world , families and friends torn apart. The Olympics are an opportunity for small groups of them to reunite, both joyfully and bitterly, in Paris.

This is the story of badminton players Oksana Kozyna and Oleksandr Chyrkov and their teacher Svitlana Shabalina - who used to consider each other as family. Kozyna and Chyrkov left the city of Dnipro after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022 and sought refuge in France. Their teacher, Shabalina - who used to bring food to school and encourage them to pursue sports for the disabled - also left Ukraine to live in Sweden earlier this year.

Kozyna and Chyrkov’s lives were marked by tragedy. Kozyna was born without a fibula in one leg. Unable to care for her, her parents abandoned her in an orphanage for disabled children, and the family was only reunited when Kozyna was 15. Chyrkov also grew up in the orphanage, having been disabled in a serious accident at the age of 8. He was only visited by his mother twice during the 2 years she spent in hospital recovering from her injuries, before she abandoned him completely.

Badminton coach Dmytro Zozulya recalls the feeling of surprise when he first visited the orphanage to select athletes for the badminton event for the disabled at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

“When I got there, I was really shocked. The place was dirty and smelled terribly,” Mr. Zozulya shared. In the gloomy setting of the orphanage, the kindness and care of teacher Shabalina made her a “second mother” to Kozyna and Chyrkov.

“I am their teacher and I care for them especially because they are orphans. I do everything for them, like bringing them food. I love my job and they are like my children,” Ms. Shabalina shared.

Shabalina cannot hide her pride when talking about her students, teenagers who have overcome personal tragedies to achieve success. Kozyna, 29, made history by becoming the first Ukrainian athlete with a disability to win the badminton world championship in 2022, while Chyrkov, 28, won silver at the European Championships last year. “I was really moved. I was so happy and proud of them,” Shabalina said.

Recalling her school days, Shabalina said that both Kozyna and Chyrkov showed leadership qualities from a very early age. She said: “Sasha (Chyrkov) was a leader. He organized everything like a sports team, always in command. Oksana also attracted the children around her. They competed with each other from a very young age.”

While Kozyna reached the badminton semi-finals at the 2024 Paralympics, Chyrkov was eliminated in the group stage. They are the only two players left from the 20 or so badminton players that Zozulya coached. “Many of them left the country or moved to other regions because they were afraid of the conflict. I myself cried every day because I have three young children,” he said.

With the help of a French friend, Christophe Guillerme, Mr. Zozulya and his family, along with Kozyna and Chyrkov, have found a new home in northern France. “We have taken them out of Ukraine and organized training sessions three to four times a week,” Guillerme said. He also called on companies to sponsor housing and travel expenses for Kozyna and Chyrkov to participate in international competitions and aim for the 2024 Paris Paralympics.

Kozyna and Chyrkov’s efforts paid off when they traveled to Paris together and had an emotional reunion with their teacher Svitlana Shabalina after about four years apart. This is not only a story of reunion but also a testament to the power of kindness, determination and resilience in the face of adversity, reminding us that amidst the harsh events of life, human love always shines and spreads strongly.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/paralympic-2024-cuoc-hoi-ngo-xuc-dong-giua-long-paris-post389585.html