The attitude of the Finns gives hope to the Ukrainian runner Kateryna Karpiuk, who escaped the war – “I am happy that there is such a place in the world”

Sprinter Kateryna Karpiuk27, repeats those words several times during the interview.

The experienced valuable visitor is one of about ten Ukrainian athletes who currently live and train at the Pajulahti training center in Nastola.

This summer, Pajulahti and its own Sports College Foundation will publish twenty Ukrainian accommodations, meals and internships. In addition to athletes, there are coaches and family members.

Most of them will live in Pajulahti at least until mid-August, possibly longer, depending on what happens in Ukraine in the fall. Many compete in the Finnish athletics fields in the summer and aim for the current season’s standings.

– Sport is not an island independent of society. The most natural way for Pajulahti to help in the current situation is to support Ukrainian athletes, director of Pajulahti Training Center Tero Kuorikoski says.

– Although we are a sports player, we are also a company with corporate responsibility. So that it doesn’t remain a keynote speech and a responsibility program for PowerPoint, the words have to come true. Here came a good opportunity to do so.

Like many Ukrainian athletes, Kateryna Karpiuk ended up in Pajulahti with her Estonian manager Aivar Karotammin through. Karotamm works for Finnish athletes Senni Salmisen, Simo Lipsasen and Sara Kuiviston with.

Karpiuk, who is aiming for the World Championships in Eugene and the European Championships in Munich, praises the framework of Pajulahti without hindrance and says that he gets hope for the attitude of the Finns he encounters.

– Finns are really good and happy people. They smile a lot. When I see their smile, I get motivated to train.

– This kind of help is extremely important to me. Living and traveling in Finland would be really expensive with my athlete’s salary. Now I have all the training framework I need in these beautiful landscapes. I am happy that there is a place in the world where it is quiet.

In Karpiuk’s hometown of Rivne, bombings and air alarms made training impossible. The sprinter remembers vividly the car ride to the training ground when it exploded near the road.

– I looked in disbelief at the destruction caused by the explosion, the wounded and the dead. I drove the car and cried.

Since then, the situation in the city of less than 250,000 inhabitants in western Ukraine has improved. The civilian population has been at peace in recent months, but fear is constantly present. Rivne is located near the Belarusian border, in addition to which the city is constantly sending troops to the battle zones of eastern Ukraine.

– Every day the coffins of the dead soldiers arrive in our city. Residents go daily to the city center for commemorations. My best friend’s brother died in the East, Karpiuk says.

When the war began in late February, the sport lost its relevance. Karpiuk just wanted to be close to his family.

The athlete, who ran for the 4x400m mixed medley team in Ukraine at the Tokyo Olympics, seriously considered ending his career until the president heard Volodymyr Zelensky lyrics. The president argued that Ukrainians should strive to continue their lives and work normally so that society does not stop spinning.

– I returned to practice two months after the war broke out.

Zelensky’s words also influenced the high jump youth value medalist Dmytro to Nikitin. He wants to play sports to remind the world what is happening in Ukraine.

– At first it was hard to even think about sports. Today, I understand that it is important to achieve good results on the ground and thus respect Ukraine, Nikitin, 22, who is aiming for a place at the Munich European Championships.

A high jumper from the city of Berdytshiv in western Ukraine says that in his current training environment, he especially appreciates nature and the opportunity to train in the hall if necessary.

– I get more strength when people from different countries help us Ukrainians to practice our profession and keep the situation in our country on display.

Athletics lovers may know Kateryna Karpiuk better than her maiden name Klymiuk, with whom she still competed for much of last year.

In September 2021, a sprinter celebrated his wedding. Now her husband is serving as a soldier across Ukraine. A large part of the family has remained in their home country.

– I think about them all the time, like how privileged I am. It is not fair that people in eastern Ukraine are in danger of dying without food and water, while I myself am allowed to be at peace. Every time I run, I think about it.

Karpiuk ran in the Ukrainian 4x400m women’s signaling team at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships and the 2018 European Championships. His goal is to represent his country again this summer at the Eugene World Championships and the European Championships in Munich.

At the same time, he realizes that everything can change even in a short time.

– It is difficult to decide what is best for me and what is best for Ukraine. If the situation clearly deteriorates and the president calls people to war, I will be ready. I am ready to end my running career and go to the eastern part of our country.

Even the biggest wish of the carp and the Ukrainians in general is not to go that far. The sprinter dreams of peace and that he could invite the Finns who helped him to his hometown of Rivne.

– We have a big house where we could have a party and watch Eurovision Song Contest.