“My Cousin Was Ki**ed”: 20-Year-Old Gymnastics Star Chasing Paris Olympics Dream Voices Harrowing Tale

War-torn Ukraine could not stop Viktoriia Onopriienko from pursuing her gymnastics dreams of competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Despite the bombs being dropped in her hometown of Kyiv, Ukraine, the former Tokyo Olympian trained in incredibly difficult conditions for 18 months. While she discovered a larger purpose in her sport, her elder brother and cousins passed away, causing the family to split up for survival.

After earning her Olympic berth, the 2023 European Championships gold medalist featured in her documentary reflected on her strength in her professional and personal life, while her mother discussed the family’s emotional tragedies in recent months. What stokes the flame and embers of her passion for the sport?

Gymnastics phenom is a byproduct of mettle, grit and pure champion energy

Viktoriia Onopriienko won a bronze medal in the mace exercises during the 2024 FIG World Cup circuit in the Rhythmic Gymnastics series, which took place in Sofia, Bulgaria, from April 12 to 14. She finished third with 33.000 points, trailing after Italian Sofia Raffaeli and Bulgarian gymnast Boryana Kaleyn. Recently, the Olympic Channel published a documentary named “Viktoriia: Ukraine’s Gymnastics Hope” highlighting her brave tale.

Her mother also shared, “Her father is her motivation. She performs for her fathers sake, for the sake of our fallen men. Her cousin was ki**ed, my own cousin was ki**ed. Our godfather was killed recently. She competes for them all, not only for herself, not only for her childhood dreams.” 

In February 2022, when Ukraine was invaded, Onopriienko’s training took an unexpected turn. Back then, air raid sirens were commonplace in the national capital where she lived. Hence, Onopriienko and her teammates were compelled to leave their training sessions to go down to the blast-proof bomb shelters. “We have a very good basement under the gym. That’s our shelter,” said the 20-year-old. Given how drained they were, loopy and bleary from sleep deprivation, the gymnasts ultimately adapted to their new normal training, as giving up wasn’t an option after coming so far.

A week before the 2023 European Championships in Baku, Onopriienko decided to change the routine music. She set her performance to the Ukrainian folk song “Oy, u luzi chervona kalyna”. As Onopriienko’s family situation got troublesome, her passion for gymnastics has proven to be a source of comfort, succor and a viable escape from the horrors of her reality. All the while, her journey remains incomplete without fair credit to her supportive parents.

Her storied history and impeccable journey – a la the Viktoriia Onopriienko saga

Born to dental technicians, Onopriienko was urged to take various sports lessons at the age of four. After three months of figure skating, she returned to her favored sport, gymnastics. Onopriienko competed in the 2018 European Championships, earning team silver, and turned senior the following year.

Onopriienko was the youngest individual rhythmic gymnast competing and one of two Ukrainian rhythmic gymnasts at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She finished eighth in the all-around final. After winning bronze at the Valencia Worlds and finishing second in the Olympics, the Ukrainian gymnast is going to be a de facto mainstay at the behemoth Paris games wherein she’ll be looking to add yet another tally of medals to her collection.