The bad news from Ukraine keeps piling up. The national swimming federation, practically in a cry for help, has reported that several of its athletes and coaches have been injured due to the Russian invasion. Others, in addition, as indicated by the organization itself, are unable to reach the country’s border due to the occupying military forces. Ayuna Morozova, coach of the federation, is one of the sad examples. Social volunteer during the armed conflict, she was trapped in the rubble of a building after a bomb exploded. Until more than two hours later, when a companion heard her screams, she was unable to leave, with large wounds all over her body.
“I was in the HODA building, on the first floor of the second office on Ivanova Street, I worked as a volunteer serving food to the soldiers and I will continue to do so. I cannot stay on the sidelines, this is my country, where I plan to become Minister of Youth and Sports. I was under the rubble for two hours and I prayed to all the gods, in all the languages I know. I couldn’t move and screamed, thinking I would die buried alive, and I almost never cry. They found me in the basement. God bless my savior Zhenya (37 years old), who heard my cries and spoke to me! You demanded that they continue to search for me and helped dig up others and you found me! I love you”, Morozova recounts on her personal Facebook accountalong with a hard photo with his visible wounds.
Her condition, as she herself updates on social networks, has been improving, although it was very worrying at first. “He was not in good health. He is a peaceful person, very active in sports… and now this. It is terrible what is happening”declared Andrii Vlashkov, president of the Ukrainian Swimming Federation, in an interview. In it, he highlighted the great involvement of Morozova in promoting water sports within a city, Kharkov, where there is a great tradition. In it, as Anna Voloshyna, legend of the Ukrainian synchro, explained to AS, part of the population is surviving in the subway. A drama that, as Voloshyna herself requested, must end as soon as possible.
Russia and Belarus, without European Rome
As the tragedy continues, the sports world continues to close its doors to Russia. In this sense, the LEN (European Swimming League) has decided to go one step further than FINA (International Swimming Federation). On Tuesday, the world body announced that Russian and Belarusian athletes would not be able to compete in the tournaments on behalf of their countries; the European, tougher, has decided to directly exclude athletes of both nationalities. With this, and except modification, they will not be able to participate in the European Swimming Championships, in Rome from August 11 to 21. The two organisms, yes, have joined forces to offer help to Ukrainian athletes, trying to provide them with everything from room and board to training facilities.