“It’s Stressful”: After Leaving Her Family Behind Amid “Explosions” as Russia Conflict Continues, Ukrainian Boxer Puts Blood, Sweat, and Tears in Training for Paris Olympics 2024

Imagine having to train with the sound of explosions in the background instead of a boxing bell. This is what an Olympian from Ukraine is going through. Anna Lysenko is a Ukrainian amateur boxer who has brought laurels to her country by representing the country at different world events. From the 2016 world championships to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she has been a source of pride for her country.

Lysenko recently opened up about the hardships she has to go through on a daily basis to ensure that she is in her best form for the Olympics. In an interview, she talked about the dedication it takes to keep on training. Lysenko also remained honest about her thoughts on Russian boxers participating in the Olympics.

Anna Lysenko on what it is like to train to the sound of explosions

Anna Lysenko, born in 1991, has represented Ukraine in various tournaments internationally. The welterweight represented her country at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, where she narrowly missed out on a medal. As she prepares for another shot at glory, she shares how challenging her training has been.

While training in the heart of Kyiv, Lysenko gave an interview to The Associated Press and talked about what her days look like. Lysenko shared that she trains inside a modest boxing gym while bombs destroy the city around her. She also referred to the time she and her teammates were training for the European championships while the city around them was being bombed.

Recalling the incident when she had to leave her family behind and go for training, she said, “How to leave your family in such a condition when something like that is happening? It’s stressful.” According to Lysenko, a lot of blood, sweat, and tears have gone into training for the Paris Olympics. She wants it to be glorious for her and her country. Meanwhile, she is not pleased with Russian athletes being allowed to compete in the Olympics.

Read More: After Refusing to Compete Against Russians, the IOC Asks Ukraine to Reconsider: “We Want to Make It Possible”

Lysenko’s thoughts on Russian athletes competing in the Olympics

According to the 31-year-old, it’s unfair to the Ukrainian counterparts as the Russian boxers do not have to train to the sound of bombs. She said, “Athletes can train in peace; nobody is shelling them, they don’t lose their loved ones, acquaintances, friends. They don’t lose them in the war.” But, recently, the IOC announced a strong call against Russian athletes, which comes as a blow to their country.

Even though she is focusing on bringing her best to the Olympics, Lysenko can’t take her mind off what’s happening in her country. She is an inspiration for everyone as she is pushing through the pain of seeing her loved ones suffer so that she can bring a medal home for her country.

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