– You wake up every morning and think it’s the last day. It may be the last day, says Levchenko to news. The athletics star is one of many Ukrainian athletes who fled the war, but are now back in their homeland and living with the imminent danger of attack. At a cafe on the east side of the river Dnipro, she meets news in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv at the beginning of February. In this exclusive interview, the high jumper tells about the dramatic morning of February 24 two years ago, the escape with her sister and mother, life as an athlete in war and why she had to return. – I woke up to some strange noises, but it took a few seconds to understand that the war had started. We were not prepared. FIGHTING FOR UKRAINE: The right-handed high jumper hopes to be able to repeat the success from the World Cup in 2017, take a medal in the championship and show off the colors of the flag to the outside world. Photo: Terje Haugnes / news – There were long queues everywhere. There were thousands of cars throughout Kyiv. We realized that we could not evacuate, because it is dangerous to remain stuck. Now we understand more, but in 2022 we didn’t understand what happened, says Levchenko. Felt like an animal The right-breasted WC silver winner thinks carefully before she answers. Although the war in Ukraine had been going on since 2014, it was only in 2022 that she really felt it on her body. She had never thought it would become a full-blown war. – You feel like an animal, says Levchenko, when she is asked about her body’s reaction. – First you want to survive. It’s an instinct and the only thing on your mind. It’s scary because the body changes you. It’s very interesting and different feeling. You just want to survive, Levchenko explains about the state of shock. Now the air alarms have become a daily routine. Kyiv attacked regularly. The citizens probably know more about the Russian military arsenal than most Russians. – You hear the sirens, and then you see what has triggered it. For example … If there are Shaheders (drones), people say ok, we can do these things, or continue to do this. If it is a plane that has triggered the alarm, it is more dangerous, Levchenko explains. HAS LEARNED TO LIVE IN WAR: Yulia Levchenko adapts everyday life after Russia’s attack. Sometimes the air alarm goes off, other times the power goes off. It is part of everyday life now. Photo: Terje Haugnes / news – We change our plans depending on what happens. You never know how long it will take, but people try to let life go on. The Ukrainian 26-year-old has repressed many of the worst memories. She thinks it’s human instinct. During the first days of the full-scale invasion, she slept almost nothing. – We had no idea what we were going to do. The fiance signed up for military service and became part of the country’s home guard. The father also wanted to contribute. He is still stationed along the front line. – It is difficult, but you forget bad things very quickly. I think it’s human instinct. But we naturally dream of the last day, of our victory, says Levchenko, who is determined that Ukraine is her future. SUPPORTING THE RECONSTRUCTION: Here, Levchenko shows off a small commemorative badge that she has bought to support the reconstruction of the country. It shows remnants of the facade of a building in Kharkiv, destroyed by Russian attacks. Photo: Terje Haugnes / news Her Estonian agent helped her escape and get to safety. When she was finally on safe ground, she realized it wasn’t something she wanted. – When we arrived in Estonia, we started to cry. My sister, mother and I. We sat in our new apartment and had no idea what to do. We sat on the floor and cried. – We traveled, but … We had no plans. When we left Kyiv we thought it might last a few weeks, but when we got to Estonia we understood that it took more than two weeks, more than one month. We didn’t know where it was going to end, says Levchenko. HAPPY AT HOME: Yulia Levchenko is most comfortable in Kyiv. Photo: Terje Haugnes / news She now lives in Kyiv, where she grew up. She makes the necessary adjustments, but admits that getting her job done is tougher than it has been. Levchenko still struggles to see sport as important. She describes it as taking off her rose-colored glasses, the day Russia attacked all of Ukraine. Tearful disappointment in the World Cup But she believes it is important to represent the country, show off the values and give the soldiers who are fighting a battle along the front line the opportunity to rejoice. That’s why the disappointment was extra big in Glasgow, when she didn’t get her best. On Friday evening, she finished with 1.84 as the final result, far behind the year’s best 1.92 and personal record 2.02 metres. On a good day, she should have fought for the bronze medal (1.95). DID NOT FLOAT HIGH ENOUGH: Yulia Levchenko cleared three times at a height of 1.88 metres. Photo: ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP On the way through the press zone the tears came. She couldn’t talk about her disappointment. Now she is setting her sights on this summer’s EC in Rome and the Olympics in Paris. When she is in season, the differences between her home country and the rest of the world become extra clear to her. – Sometimes you don’t need to talk to others in Ukraine. You can see it in people’s eyes that we understand each other. When I’m abroad, it’s different.
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The star Yulia Levchenko woke up in mortal danger – collapsed when she was safe – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
