Ukraine’s Vysochanska Leads Europeans in Olympic Torch Relay Amid War Tensions

In a significant moment for Ukraine during the torch relay for the Paris Olympics, Ukrainian gymnast Mariia Vysochanska led a group of European athletes through the Mediterranean city of Marseille on Thursday. This event marked the beginning of an 11-week journey across France leading up to the Olympics opening ceremony on July 26. The torch relay was met with enthusiasm as crowds lined the streets to cheer on the relay of torchbearers, including notable athletes like basketball player Tony Parker and former soccer player Basile Boli. At midday, a collective of 27 athletes and para-athletes from each EU country joined the relay, forming a guard of honor to welcome Vysochanska, who previously won two gold medals at the 2020 European Championships and competed at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021. Vysochanska expressed deep emotion about this opportunity, stating, “It is very hard to put all the emotions I experience into words, but I feel immense pride and happiness that Ukraine has become the 28th country to carry the torch with EU countries, and that the captain has honored me by allowing me to carry the Olympic torch.” Her involvement in the event has particular significance due to her father’s ongoing military service since 2015. Following Russia’s initiation of the illegal annexation of Crimea and subsequent armed conflict in eastern Ukraine, her father participated in the 242-day-long battle for Donetsk Airport, receiving a head injury while defending it alongside other soldiers who were dubbed “cyborgs” in Ukraine for their tenacity. The French government, which has become increasingly supportive of Ukraine amidst the conflict, invited Vysochanska to join the torch relay event. The Olympic committee announced in March that Russian and Belarusian athletes would not be participating in the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony due to the ongoing war initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Any athletes from these nations must now undergo a two-step verification process before being permitted to compete under a neutral flag. Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv contributed to this report.