MARSEILLE, France. Ukrainian gymnast Mariia Vysochanska took center stage in Marseille on Thursday, leading a contingent of European athletes carrying the torch for the Paris Olympics through the vibrant streets, in a poignant gesture of solidarity for her war-torn homeland.
The torch relay in Marseille marked the commencement of an 11-week odyssey across France leading up to the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony on July 26. The atmosphere crackled with excitement as the bustling streets of Marseille erupted in cheers for the procession of torchbearers, including renowned athletes like basketball star Tony Parker and former soccer player Basile Boli.
The pinnacle moment for Ukraine unfolded at noon when a group of 27 athletes and para-athletes representing each EU member state joined the relay in honor of Europe Day on May 9. Forming a guard of honor, they welcomed Vysochanska, a decorated athlete who clinched two gold medals at the 2020 European Championships and competed in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
“It is very hard to put all the emotions I experience into words,” expressed the 21-year-old athlete. “I feel pride and incredible happiness that Ukraine became the 28th country to carry the flame with EU countries, and that the captain has honored me by letting me carry the Olympic flame.”
Following the torch handover, the European collective received a warm welcome from French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, underscoring France’s increasing support for Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict.
“We are doing a lot to make sure that they (Ukrainian athletes) can prepare in the best possible conditions at a time where they face that terrible war of aggression, and we want to really express that we support them the best we can,” stated Oudéa-Castéra.
For Vysochanska, the event carries personal significance as her father has been engaged in combat since 2015, amid Russia’s aggression and the subsequent armed conflict in eastern Ukraine. Her father’s participation in the prolonged battle for Donetsk airport, where he sustained a head injury, resonates deeply with Ukraine’s resilience.
Moreover, Vysochanska’s involvement reflects Ukraine’s aspirations to align with the European Union, with accelerated talks on accession underway since last year.
The International Olympic Committee’s decision in March to bar Russian and Belarusian athletes from the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony due to the ongoing conflict further underscores the geopolitical tensions surrounding the games. Any athletes from these countries are required to undergo a stringent vetting process to compete under a neutral banner.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
