On 7 August 2024, Oleksandr Khyzhniak clinched Ukraine’s third gold medal at the Paris Olympics, dominating the men’s 80 kg boxing final at Roland Garros. In a match, Khyzhniak defeated Kazakhstan’s Nurbek Oralbay with a 3-2 split decision.
Prior to Khyzhniak’s victory, Ukraine’s gold medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics were secured by Yaroslava Mahuchikh in women’s high jump and the women’s saber fencing team, which included Olga Kharlan.
Oleksandr Khyzhniak’s gold medal victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics adds his name to a distinguished list of Ukrainian boxers who have triumphed on the Olympic stage. Previous Ukrainian champions include:
- Volodymyr Klitschko, who won gold in the over 91 kg category in 1996
- Vasyl Lomachenko, who secured golds in the under 57 kg category in 2008 and under 60 kg in 2012
- Oleksandr Usyk, who claimed the top spot in the under 91 kg category in 2012.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy lauded Khyzhniak’s performance, tweeting,
“Thank you for your strength, confidence, and this significant victory! We cheer for Ukraine, we cheer for Ukrainians!”
Another gold medal for Ukraine at the Olympics in Paris! Boxer Oleksandr Khyzhnyak has taken the first place. Thank you for your strength, your confidence, and for this important victory!
We continue to support all our athletes. We cheer for Ukraine, we cheer for Ukrainians!… pic.twitter.com/urbmne3U4f
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 7, 2024
Oleksandr Khyzhniak’s path to Olympic gold included victories over strong competitors such as Brazil’s Wanderlei Pereira in the quarter-finals and Arlen Lopez from Cuba, a two-time Olympic champion, in the semi-finalst.
Amid the ongoing full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Ukrainian national Olympic team, comprising only 140 athletes – the smallest in the nation’s Olympic history – competed in Paris. Russian athletes, restricted from representing their country due to the invasion, participated as individual neutral athletes.
The Ukrainian President’s Office noted earlier that due to Russian aggression, 490 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have died, dozens are injured, over 30 have been through Russian captivity or remain captive, and 520 sports facilities in Ukraine, including 15 Olympic, Deaflympic, and Paralympic training bases, have been damaged.
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