Ukrainian war veterans, including athletes who have lost limbs in combat, have taken on a grueling HYROX fitness competition in Valencia, Spain, using sport to support their recovery and raise awareness of the challenges facing wounded veterans KYIV, Ukraine -- Since losing both legs, Dmytro Bykhovchenko has become a meticulous planner. The best route for every trip, access to cars, and the availability of ramps and handrails are all worked out in detail ahead of time. This month, the 30-year-old completed his most ambitious plan yet, joining fellow Ukrainian war veterans in a grueling international fitness race in Valencia, Spain.
Known as HYROX, the competition combines eight 1-kilometer runs with eight punishing workouts, including sled pushes, rowing, weighted carries and sandbag lunges. Amputee athletes competed in the event’s disabled category. As planned, Bykhovchenko finished the course, wheeling himself around the track and lowering himself to the ground for floor workouts.
Heavy fighting delayed his evacuation for hours. For Bykhovchenko and his teammates, including veterans with multiple amputations, finishing the event marked a milestone in their recovery. It also carried a broader message about a country still fighting after more than 4 1/2 years of war.
In Valencia, he stood over Bykhovchenko, shouting words of encouragement as his teammate worked through the circuits. Some team members were relatively new to sports and relied on trainers who volunteered hours to help them get into shape. Yasia Shandrii, a fitness trainer in Kyiv, worked with Bykhovchenko ahead of the competition.
Bykhovchenko's training partner, Oleksandr Dashko, who had his left leg amputated due to a combat injury, said sports provided a welcome distraction from the war in Ukraine. The news on Instagram is about the war. The war is everywhere,” he said.
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