The war in Ukraine is making its way onto the podiums of the Paralympic Games. “I couldn’t sleep because I was so worried about my family, because of the recent missile attacks on our cities,” Mariia Pomazan said on Thursday, September 5, after winning gold in the shot put.
Born in Zaporizhzhia, whose nuclear power plant has been occupied by the Russian army since 2022, the 35-year-old Ukrainian para-athlete has contributed to her country’s impressive record in Paralympic history. “Every time our athletes stand on the podium, it becomes a proud moment for the whole of Ukraine,” President Zelensky said on Thursday.