A swimming competition for veterans dedicated to the second anniversary of the "Free Waves" project took place in Kamianske. Five representatives from Kryvyi Rih took to the swim lanes to prove once more that true strength is not only about physical fitness, but also about character, resilience, and belief in oneself.
On their way to Kamianske, veteran swimmers from Kryvyi Rih, participants in the "Free Waves" project, felt a degree of nervousness, as they were about to compete against fellow veterans from Kamianske and Zaporizhzhia for the first time. However, upon arriving at the swimming pool, they immediately realised that the competition would be friendly and welcoming. The athletes were greeted by Olympic silver medallist, world and European champion, and the first world champion in open-water swimming in the history of independent Ukraine, Denys Sylantiev, whose training methodology is used by the veterans.
"The main objective of the 'Free Waves' project is to help veterans and servicemen restore their physical and psychological health through regular swimming sessions. The project was launched in Kryvyi Rih almost two years ago with the support of Metinvest and the City Defence Council. Our organisation has taken responsibility for coordinating activities between veterans, partners, and sports facilities. We are delighted to see the achievements of our swimmers and take great pride in their successes," said Olena LESHCHENKO, Director of the NGO "Kryvyi Rih Foundation for the Future".
According to participants, the sporting event was organised to the highest standard. Guests from Kryvyi Rih received a warm welcome, had the opportunity to get acquainted with one another, and enjoyed friendly conversations. Wives and children accompanying the veteran athletes were offered access to the swimming pool and sauna. Everything was arranged to ensure that everyone felt comfortable, turning the competition into a genuine family event. Spectators in the stands also supported all participants equally enthusiastically.
"There were 30 participants in total. We competed in several categories, including the Amputation category for different age groups. I finished first in the butterfly event and won three silver medals in breaststroke, backstroke, and freestyle. A year ago, I could never have imagined that I would be able to achieve all this. I remember my first visit to the pool. Back then, I could barely manage 25 metres and needed a long rest afterwards. Now I feel stronger. My phantom pain has disappeared, my coordination has improved, and I can feel my muscles becoming stronger. I now attend training sessions regularly because I have realised that swimming is my salvation," said Oleksandr LUHOVSKYI, a veteran and employee of Inhulets Iron Ore.
In addition to the noticeable health benefits, their shared passion for swimming has brought new friendships into the veterans' lives. Their families have become friends as well, while wives and children provide their defenders with unwavering support. Together, they spend their leisure time, attend training sessions, and watch swimming tutorials.
"When I started training, I was already using a prosthesis. Phantom pain was causing me significant discomfort. I had never trained in swimming professionally before and simply moved through the water as best I could. Now I feel much better and continue improving my skills in different swimming styles. My prosthetist praises my progress and says that thanks to training in the water, blood circulation in my amputated leg remains strong and the limb is not atrophying. At these competitions, I won three gold medals in the 50-metre backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle events, as well as a bronze medal in the 100-metre freestyle. I am planning to order a running prosthesis as I want to compete in triathlon events," shared Serhii NAHORNYI, a veteran and retired employee of Inhulets Iron Ore.
In Kamianske, the veterans from Kryvyi Rih delivered significantly stronger performances than during their first Veterans Family Games competition in Kryvyi Rih. This time, they completed not two but four 50-metre distances. They participated in every race and the final relay despite having virtually no rest between swims. Their efforts resulted in an impressive tally of four gold, four silver, and three bronze medals. Additional medals were won by Volodymyr Zolotarov, a veteran of Northern Iron Ore, who secured two bronze medals in freestyle and backstroke, and Viktor Kotsar, a veteran and retired employee of Inhulets Iron Ore, who won silver in the backstroke event.
"The men prepared very seriously for this competition. During the final week, we trained every day. I decided to enter them in all races so that, by overcoming their own limits, they could realise just how much potential they still possess. This can only truly be experienced in competition, where emotions, excitement, and adrenaline come into play. I am extremely pleased with their results, especially considering that two years ago they could barely stay afloat and were unfamiliar with different swimming techniques. Today, they have mastered not only freestyle and backstroke but also the more challenging breaststroke and butterfly styles," said swimming coach Oksana PETRYCHENKO.
