Amidst the turmoil of war and personal loss, Ukrainian athletes like Kateryna Tabashnyk are determinedly striving to secure a spot on the Olympic team for Paris 2024. Tabashnyk, a 30-year-old high jumper, narrowly missed qualifying by clearing 1.89 meters at the Ukrainian Athletics Championships. This achievement, although insufficient for Olympic qualification, highlighted her incredible perseverance against a backdrop of profound grief and adversity.

Two years ago, Tabashnyk’s mother was killed in a Russian airstrike on Kharkiv. Despite the devastation, she returned to competition a month later, viewing her athletic career as a tribute to her mother. “Of course, it affects people and, of course, me – the loss of my home, the loss of my dear mother, the loss of friends,” Tabashnyk shared. “All this takes strength, takes energy. It’s like a poison for the body.”

Tabashnyk’s journey is emblematic of the struggles faced by many Ukrainian athletes. Ukraine plans to send over 100 athletes to Paris, fewer than the previous Games in Tokyo, but their participation carries immense significance. Since the full-scale invasion by Russia, supported by Belarus, Ukrainian athletes have faced destroyed facilities, lost loved ones, and an uncertain future. According to Ukraine’s Sports Ministry, about 3,000 athletes have served in the military, with 479 killed. Over 500 sports facilities, including 15 Olympic training bases, have been destroyed.

Despite these challenges, Ukrainian athletes continue to compete at a high level. Tabashnyk won bronze at the European Indoor Championships earlier this year, her first major event medal. She had been confident of making the Olympic team before a recent injury hindered her preparation. “You can’t imagine how many times I wanted to give it all up, give up on sports, on jumping,” she said. “But every time I pull myself together and say, ‘No, now I have to fight like never before.’”

The struggle extends beyond Tabashnyk. Viktoriia Tkachuk, a 400-meter hurdler, has been making the 46-hour trip from Ukraine to her training camp in South Africa. Her brother’s deployment to the frontline last May has added to her family’s stress. Despite this, she remains focused on her Olympic dream. “He’s texted me a message: ‘You will win there, and I will win here,’” she said, highlighting their mutual support.

The debate over Russian and Belarusian athletes’ participation in the Olympics has been intense. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has allowed them to compete as Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs) under strict eligibility requirements, but Ukraine had hoped for a total ban. Nonetheless, World Athletics has banned Russian and Belarusian athletes from track and field events, sparing athletes like Tkachuk from competing against representatives of nations currently at war with Ukraine.

Training abroad has been a necessity for many. Anna Ryzhykova, another 400m hurdler, spends summers training in Brescia, Italy. Yet, being away from home is challenging. “Home is my safe place where I can recharge, relax,” said Ryzhykova, who won a bronze medal in the 4x400m relay at the 2012 London Olympics. To manage her stress on competition days, she avoids news and immerses herself in novels.

As Ukraine prepares to compete in Paris, the athletes carry not just the weight of personal and national expectations, but also the hope and resilience of a nation under siege. “This is a very important mission,” said Matviy Bidnyi, Ukraine’s acting sports minister. “All our athletes understand their responsibility in it.”