Ukraine’s rowers rise above conflict at home to reach rowing podium

Ukraine’s rowers have spoken about the difficulties they have faced in the wake of the conflict in their country on Day 1 of the finals at the Olympic Regatta Centre.

The team reached the podium three times during the opening session, claiming a silver and two bronze medals.

In the first final of the day, reigning Paralympic Champion, Roman Polianskyi was beaten by newcomer Giacomo Perini of Italy in the PR1 men’s single sculls.

Reflecting after the race, he told World Rowing: “The war has made it difficult for us to have possibilities of good training before these European Championships. Training has been really hard for me.

“This is why this is the best result I could have in this competition.”

Ukraine also took third place in both the PR1 women’s single sculls via Anna Sheremet and the women’s quadruple sculls.

Nataliya Dovgodko was part of the bronze-winning quartet. She said: “It’s hard work for us, now when the war is in Ukraine.

“It’s really hard because most of us athletes go out from Ukraine into camp before the war. The girls don’t see their parents. I come to Ukraine for 10 days and it was hard.”

Ukraine claimed 26 medals at the European Championships in Glasgow and Berlin in 2018, eight of them gold.