Oksana Baiul Reflects on Her Ukrainian Identity After Olympic Triumph and Current Conflict

Figure skater Oksana Baiul, who competed in women’s singles and in 1994 became the first Olympic champion in the history of Ukraine, realized that she was Ukrainian.

Baiul currently lives in the US. On August 23, 2021, on her page on a popular social network, she wrote: “I thank everyone for everything 🙏🌎 I was born Russian, I won gold for Ukraine , and I die an American 🙌. “

In a new interview that the Ukrainian journalist Alesya Batsman took with Baiul recently, the first Olympic champion in the history of Ukraine told how she realized that she was Ukrainian. This achievement came to her on February 25, 2022, the day after Russian President Vladimir Putin began a special military operation.

“We were warned in America that there would be a conflict between Putin and Ukraine. Like anyone, you watch the news… But I didn’t believe it. I could not believe it! What could happen…

I remember my daughter and I went to a cafe the next day, and my heart was just shaking. And I realized that I am on the side of Ukraine. You will never betray your country and your mother. And I understand at this moment that I am Ukrainian.

Until that time, I could not understand myself or admit it… I don’t even speak Ukrainian… But I understand that my heart is with the Ukrainian people, with the Ukrainian people . And at that moment you understand that you are with Ukraine. And you won the Olympic Games for Ukraine, and the flag was raised in honor of Ukraine…” said Baiul.