Ukraine was present at the World Athletics Championships

“None of us want to be in their shoes. It's very sad and a shame," said Germany's best pole vaulter Bo Kanda Lita Baehre about the more than 20 Ukrainian athletes competing in Eugene. Olympic long jump champion Malaika Mihambo also paid her respects to the starters from the country attacked by Russia. “I find it remarkable how the Ukrainian athletes pull themselves together and try to do their best despite this critical situation,” said Mihambo.

The world association World Athletics reacted as soon as the war in Ukraine began in February: Russia and Belarus were quickly excluded from the world title fights in the USA. “It would have been unthinkable to organize a World Cup here with athletes from Belarus and Russia, two aggressive nations that invaded an independent state,” emphasized World Association President Sebastian Coe shortly before the start of the World Cup.

The Ukrainian high jumper Jaroslava Mahutschich put it more drastically. “I don’t want to see any killers in the stadium. A lot of athletes support the war,” said the 2019 World Cup bronze medalist and world indoor champion to the American news agency AP. In the final on Wednesday night she is the gold favorite - also because three-time world champion Marija Lassizkene from Russia is not at the start.

Mahutschich is the favorite for the gold medal. © APA/afp / OLIVER BUNIC

In an open letter to Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, and Coe, Lassizkene complained about not being able to take part in the World Cup. Although Lassizkene expressed sympathy for the athletes from Ukraine (“They are experiencing what no human being should ever experience”), he also said that the exclusion of Russia from international sport did not stop the war, but “a new war about and in sport “would have sparked.

The German World Cup defending champion Mihambo is in contact with her Ukrainian long jump colleague Maryna Bech-Romantschuk, who won silver at the 2019 World Cup in Doha and is likely to be her rival again in Eugene on the final World Cup weekend. “During the competitions we also talked about their lives during times of war. “I’m connected to her even during this time beyond sports,” said Mihambo.

The Ukrainian athletes received financial support for their World Cup preparations from World Athletics. More than $220 was allocated to the country's participants in the U000 World Cup in Cali, Colombia, and the World Cup in Eugene. Because of the war, many of Ukraine's top athletes have to train abroad, where tests were organized for them by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Your World Cup start is burdened by the war, but also connected to a mission.

“The athletics family worldwide agrees that it is the right decision,” said German association president Jürgen Kessing about the exclusion of Russia and Belarus. “No sensible person can tolerate or understand when one state invades another – right on our doorstep in the middle of Europe.” Understanding also for Russian athletes Nevertheless, walker Jonathan Hilbert also shows understanding for the Russian athletes. “I am of course sorry for them that they are not allowed to start because they have nothing directly to do with the war of aggression,” said the Olympic silver medalist in the 50 kilometer walk. “But you have to make it clear that a tough course is being taken internationally that is justifiable and fair.” Association boss Kessing also shares this view: “Especially at this time it is necessary to set limits. What else should one tolerate?”

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Ukraine was present at the World Athletics Championships

The Ukraine war is also a touching topic in the peaceful competition for titles and medals at the World Athletics Championships.

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