Ukrainian Swimmer Vladyslav Bukhov Claims World Championship Title
The final of the men's 50-meter freestyle event at the World Aquatics Championships in Qatar concluded with a sensational victory for Ukrainian swimmer Vladyslav Bukhov. This triumph marked the first medal for the Ukrainian swimming team at this world championship, as reported by the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine.
In the semifinals of the competition, the Ukrainian swimmer secured victory, setting a new national record for Ukraine - 21.38 seconds. In the final, his time was slightly slower - 21.44 seconds, but it was enough for him to clinch the gold and make history. Vladyslav Bukhov became the first Ukrainian in history to win a world championship title in this distance.
Vladyslav's achievement can truly be termed historic for Ukraine, as he also became the first Ukrainian world swimming champion since 2007 when Oleg Lisogor claimed gold in the 50-meter breaststroke.
"It was a very tough race. I am satisfied with the result. I want to thank all my teammates, coaches, and family who supported me. I worked until the end - that's it. Just did my job. Now, as a world champion, I will train even harder before the Olympics. We'll see what comes out of it," said the Ukrainian swimmer after his victory.
The 21-year-old athlete, born in Donetsk, used his victory as a platform to highlight to the international media the unacceptable participation of representatives of the aggressor country in the Olympic Games in Paris, even in a neutral status.
"It's difficult, very difficult. We train while Russian rockets fly around our pool. You never know if you'll stay alive or not. And all Ukrainians live like this. Russia is dangerous, its athletes should not be allowed to compete in any status, even neutral!" said Vladyslav Bukhov.
The Gaze also reported that Ukrainian figure skater Ivan Shmuratko performed at the European Championships in a "bloodied" shirt. The 22-year-old skater took to the ice, telling the story of a child killed by a rocket strike and a father who continues to live with it. For his performance, Ivan Shmuratko received 140.70 points, securing the 12th position in the free program rankings. With a total score of 210.65 points (for the short and free programs combined), he finished 14th in the overall standings.