Ukraine’s latest sporting hero says Manchester City and Everton fans helped to inspire the Paralympic medal haul that lifted his beleaguered nation. Cross-country skier Grygorii Vovchynskyi won an astonishing five medals - two gold, a silver and two bronze - in Beijing despite the anxiety over his family back home during the Russian invasion.
And he revealed how the emotional sight of City star Zinchenko embracing his countryman and Everton defender Vitaliy Mykolenko, with the backing of both sets of supporters, in the game at Goodison Park a fortnight ago gave him and his countrymen a huge lift. Vovchynskyi is a City fan since Zinchenko joined the club and watches as many games as he can - and he took a break from his pre-Games training camp in Italy to watch the Blues win on Merseyside.
The 33-year-old said that the City left back, and the other Ukraine international starring in the Premier League are performing a vital role in lifting morale and helping to focus the eyes of the world on the terrible conflict.
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“We watched the Everton game and it inspired me, what Zinchenko, Mykolenko, Yarmolenko and all the footballers in the Premier League are doing - and it inspires the whole Ukrainian people,” he said after flying back to Europe with girlfriend and fellow Paralympic athlete Iryna Bui. “I am a City fan through Zinchenko and was at training camp when we saw what happened at Everton - to see the Ukraine flags, from both fans, was moving for us and it helps to keep you strong. I only want peace.”
He and Iryna flew back to Warsaw and have since returned to Ukraine, where their daughter has been staying with relatives: “It was hard to concentrate in Beijing while competing, because I was so worried about what was happening back home,” he said.
“We have a young daughter and we just want to get home. I am so grateful for the goodwill of the English football fans. I brought some medals back for Ukraine, and now I hope City can win some medals this season too!
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“What Zinchenko and the other guys are doing is to act as an inspiration for Ukrainian people, and to make sure that what is happening there is being heard around the world.”
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