In war-torn northern Ukraine, young athletes are training under extraordinary circumstances, determined to pursue Olympic dreams despite ongoing conflict. At the Sports Ski Base of the Olympic Reserve in Chernihiv, cross-country skiers and biathletes practice while sirens warn of nearby attacks, demonstrating resilience and courage in the face of danger.
Training Under Fire
Children and teenagers start their days skiing through scorched forests, focusing on technique until the inevitable air raid sirens interrupt their sessions. They swiftly follow coaches to underground bomb shelters, a routine that has become normalized due to the war.
“We have adapted so well — even the children — that sometimes we don’t even react,” said Mykola Vorchak, a 67-year-old coach.
“Although it goes against safety rules, the children have been hardened by the war. Adapting to this has changed them psychologically.”
Nearby land remains off-limits due to unexploded ordnance, but roughly 350 young athletes continue to train in fenced-off areas. Drones buzzing overhead and occasional explosions add to the intensity, yet training continues with focus and determination.
Impact of War on Ukrainian Sport
The war has severely affected sports across Ukraine. Many athletes were displaced or called to military service, and events like football matches are disrupted by sirens, limiting spectator attendance to the capacity of bomb shelters.
Elite skaters, skiers, and biathletes often train abroad because domestic facilities are unsafe due to frequent blackouts and attacks. Despite this, the Chernihiv training center remains operational for cross-country skiing and biathlon, keeping Ukraine’s Olympic pipeline alive.
Temporary structures serve as changing rooms, offices, and coach facilities, while athletes practice year-round on snowy trails or roller skis along asphalt tracks marked by blasts.
Ukraine’s First Olympic Medal
The Chernihiv center has a historic legacy. Valentyna Tserbe-Nesina, Ukraine’s first Olympic medalist as an independent nation, trained here before winning bronze at the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Games.
“The conditions weren’t great, but we had nothing better. And for us, it was like a family — our own little home,” Tserbe-Nesina recalled.
Visiting the base in 2022, she found bombed-out buildings, shattered glass, and burned trophies, a stark reminder of how conflict has ravaged Ukraine’s sports infrastructure.
Olympic Dreams as an Act of Defiance
For many Ukrainians, continuing to train amid war is an act of national pride and resilience. Khrystyna Dmytrenko, 26, who served in Ukraine’s territorial defense in 2022, will represent her country at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics beginning February 6.
“Sports can show that Ukraine is strong,” Dmytrenko said.
“We represent Ukraine on the international stage, letting other countries, athletes, and nations see our unity, strength, and determination.”
Former Olympic biathlete Nina Lemesh, 52, noted that many of today’s young athletes began their training in wartime and have become international champions in their age groups.
International Context and Challenges
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has banned or restricted Russian athletes following the invasion of Ukraine. While a limited number of Russians will compete in upcoming Winter Games under strict conditions, Ukrainian athletes see their participation as a symbolic stand for their country.
“Fortunately, Ukrainians remain here. They always will,” Lemesh said, standing beside destroyed dormitories.
“This is the next generation of Olympians.”
Training in bombed-out facilities and under constant threat, these young athletes are not just pursuing medals—they are embodying defiance, hope, and national pride in a country at war.
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