Dmytro Soyarko, 26, a cross-country skier, lives in Chernihiv, 15 miles north of Kiev. While Dmytro was competing in the Beijing Paralympics, his apartment building in Ukraine was hit by a missile, but his own apartment escaped unscathed. At home, he wanted to help out as much as possible.
– Because I have a visual impairment, I cannot join the army, if I could, I would, says Dmytro Suiarko.
He sold Paralympic medals
To try to somehow help the people of Chernihiv and the surrounding villages, Dmytro and a friend bought a minibus this summer and brought out food, medicine and other equipment. To put up with it all, Dmytro sold one of his Paralympic medals.
– I was given $5,000, not that much money, but it’s always something, says Dmytro Suiarko.
In January, Dmytro Soyarko competed in the semi-world championships in biathlon in Östersund, finishing fourth at best.
Many athletes want to win medals. They want to win gold. I just train and run and work. But you can’t focus on one hundred percent, says Suiarko, shrugging his shoulders in fourth.
– In Ukraine, they don’t look forward to the future. You are here today, you live today. If you live for tomorrow, that’s fine.
“Unapologetic writer. Bacon enthusiast. Introvert. Evil troublemaker. Friend of animals everywhere.”
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