At the near end of the pool hangs a banner depicting a soldier, standing in a field of golden corn underneath a rich blue sky. A column of tanks stretches behind him and overhead flies a national flag that the scene's essential elements are designed to replicate. The accompanying slogan reads: "I believe in the armed forces, glory to Ukraine!" Beneath it, as the image catches the early morning light, Mykhailo Serbin climbs in and sets off down the middle lane.
Serbin cuts through the water with speed and grace, which is to be expected from one of the best para swimmers in the world. At the end of each length he is guided by sticks held out by members of staff, so that he knows when it is time to turn. His local pool in Kharkiv was ruined by Russian bombs; it has been an adjustment to live and train here in Kamianske, a dormitory city of Dnipro, along with a tranche of athletes living in forced exile from their homes.
"We had no hopes, no expectations," Serbin says of those months after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. "Would we get a salary? Would our fees be paid? It was all unknown. We lived one day at a time and just started training.
You couldn't know what would happen tomorrow."
Through all the uncertainty and upheaval he will compete in Paris over the next fortnight. He hopes to retain his Paralympic title in the 100m backstroke S11 category, which is for swimmers who are almost completely blind, and has a 200m individual medley silver to build on too. At 20 he has a formidable bank of achievements behind him, a world championship gold in Madeira last year among the most recent.
"The first goal is to prove to yourself that you haven't worked in vain for the last few years," he says of the task ahead. "The next is to make sure people don't forget about Ukrainians, who are such strong people."
This story is from the August 27, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 27, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Tielemans leads Villa triumph at Young Boys in flying start
An hour before kick-off the few hundred Aston Villa supporters admiring the view from their seats cheered the first rendition of the Champions League anthem over the speakers and their mood was similarly jubilant after watching their team ruthlessly dispatch the Swiss champions on their first foreign assignment at this level for 41 years.
Konaté and Van Dijk head Liverpool home after early Milan scare
A stirring comeback against Milan: say what you like about Arne Slot, but at least he knows his history.
Seventh heaven for United as Rashford tucks in for duck-shoot
Antony's penalty in this evisceration means the maligned wide man needs only two more goals to equal the three last season for Manchester United.
No magic bullet Why a British-Irish league is not the answer to rugby's financial problems
In a perfect world the countdown to a new season would be all about the rugby.
Biometric EU border checks expected to be delayed again
The full implementation of an EU entry-exit system introducing fingerprinting and facial recognition checks at ports and airports is expected to be delayed again amid fears over congestion and long queues.
Combs faces charges of sex trafficking and racketeering after arrest
Sean \"Diddy\" Combs is facing charges of sex trafficking and racketeering, according to a federal indictment unsealed yesterday that alleged he also engaged in kidnapping, forced labour, bribery and other crimes.
Pressure on Secret Service after Trump 'assassination attempt'
The Secret Service did not search the perimeter of the golf course where a suspect lurked for nearly 12 hours in the hope of killing Donald Trump, the agency has admitted.
'Hell on Earth' Children starve as civil war grinds on
In the small town of Tawila, in Sudan's North Darfur state, at least 10 children are dying of hunger every day.
First image of doomed Titan after implosion
The first picture of the Titan submersible following its deadly June 2023 implosion was revealed on Monday by the US Coast Guard as authorities opened a public hearing into the deaths of five people onboard.
Spain's green Socialist gets top European Commission role as leader sets out plans
Spain's outspoken Socialist deputy prime minister will take charge of Europe's \"clean transition\", it emerged yesterday, as Ursula von der Leyen outlined the choices for her team of 26 top officials.