Ukraine’s gold medal-winning boxer, Oleksandr Khyzhniak, returns home and lifts spirits amid war
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s gold medal-winning boxer Oleksandr Khyzhniak gave a military salute to the crowd gathered to celebrate his return to the war-torn country from the Paris Olympics.
Stepping out of the special Olympic Express train at Kyiv’s central railway station, Khyzhniak, 29, greeted fans, friends and family. The athlete from Poltava is also a serviceman of Ukraine’s border guard.
He’s the first gold-medal winner in the 2024 Olympics to bring the award to his home country.
“I truly dedicate this award to every Ukrainian, to everyone who helped and supported me, who was by my side, cheered for me all over the world,” Khyzhniak said upon his arrival Saturday.
In the men’s middleweight category, Khyzhniak defeated Nurbek Oralbay from Kazakhstan. Ukraine has a …