The 2024 Paralympics will not only be a place for athletes to compete but also a place to witness emotional reunions.
The conflict has scattered millions of Ukrainians around the world, tearing families and friends 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 duo 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 brought them food to school and encouraged them to pursue sports for the disabled - also left Ukraine for 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 properly, 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, becoming disabled in a serious accident at the age of eight. He was only visited by his mother twice during the two years he spent in hospital recovering from his 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 terrible,” 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 about 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 tragedy to achieve success. Kozyna, 29, made history by becoming the first Ukrainian athlete with a disability to win the world badminton championship in 2022, while Chyrkov, 28, won silver at the European Championships last year. “I was really touched,” Shabalina said. “I am so happy and proud of them.”
Recalling her school days, Shabalina said that both Kozyna and Chyrkov showed leadership qualities from a very early age. “Sasha (Chyrkov) was a leader,” she said. “He organised everything like a sports team, always in command. And Oksana always attracted the children around her. They were competitive from a very young age.”
While Kozyna reached the badminton semifinals 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 have left the country, or moved to other regions, 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, Zozulya and his family, along with Kozyna and Chyrkov, have found new homes in northern France. “We have taken them out of Ukraine and organised training sessions three to four times a week,” Guillerme said. He is also appealing to companies to sponsor housing and travel costs for Kozyna and Chyrkov to compete 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, humanity always shines and spreads strongly.
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