It took 17 years for Ukraine to see Olympic medals shining around its swimmers’ necks.
On Aug.1, Ukrainian swimmer Mykhailo Romanchuk, 24, won the silver medal in the men’s 1,500-meter freestyle at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
He finished in 14.4 minutes and was overtaken by U.S. swimmer Bobby Finke, faster by 1 second.
The silver medal was a personal victory for Romanchuk, who finally got ahead of his British rival Florian Wellbrock for the first time in three years.
“These competitions (at the Olympic games) were very hard: the regime was unusual and my body was just not used to this,” Romanchuk said.
“Of course, I want more. We don’t give up, and no matter how difficult it is, we will move on. At least to Paris-2024.”
Ukraine’s Mykhailo Romanchuk reacts after winning silver in the final of the men’s 1500m freestyle swimming event during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo on August 1, 2021. (Photo by Jonathan Nackstrand/ AFP)
So far, the national team has won six medals, including Romanchuk’s silver. But the rest were only bronze, including his own, which Romankuk won on July 29 at a distance of 800 meters freestyle.
It was the first Olympic medal in his career.
“I needed 18 years to achieve this victory as I started to train at six,” said Romanchuk, National Olympic Committee of Ukraine reported.
Ukraine’s new swimming star was the top qualifier prior to the 800-meter race, setting an Olympic and national record with 7:41 time.
