On May 9, gymnast Maria Vysochanska ran through the streets of Marseille with the Olympic flame: Ukrainians entrusted her to lead the relay of European athletes who carried the torch of the Paris Olympic Games 2024. As you know, France is the host of the competition this year.
Thus, the daughter of the defender of the Donetsk Airport “Cyborg” marked the beginning of the 11-week competition, which should start in Paris on July 26. As the Lviv Regional Council reminded on Facebook, Maria Vysochanska took part in the Olympic Games in Tokyo (2020). She is also a bronze medalist of the World Championship in group exercises in gymnastics.
As foreign media commented on today’s event, the fact that the Ukrainians gave the right to lead the relay in the group of EU athletes is a symbolic expression of support for Ukraine in a difficult time for it. This was also emphasized by Vysochanska in a conversation with Le Monde. The other day, she emphasized to the publication:
“I know very well what price we pay for the Ukrainian flag flying high on the international stage.”
It should be recalled that Ukraine became the 28th participant of the ceremony, carrying the flame together with the EU countries. Vysochanska became a participant in the torch relay at the invitation of the French government.
Maria Vysochanska emphasized to the mass media that she currently dedicates all her sports victories to her father – the famous Ukrainian military “Cyborg”, who fought with Russia in 2015. Among the merits of the fighter is the defense of the Donetsk airport, which lasted 242 days. Then Oleg Vysochansky was wounded in the head during the battles. After rehabilitation, he received the status of a military pensioner, in 2020 he headed the municipal institution of the Lviv Regional Council “Warrior’s House” as a director.
