Ukraine’s Kyrylo Marsak isn’t just skating for a medal—he’s channeling his family’s war trauma into his free skate, as his father fights on the front and his hometown burns.
A Skater Carrying Kherson in His Blades
Marsak’s story isn’t typical Olympic drama. The 21-year-old relocated to Finland for safety, but the wounds from Kherson never healed. His father dons army fatigues, his grandparents endure drone strikes, and their ice rink is rubble—all while he interprets “I’m Tired” and “The Feels” to Labrinth and Zendaya beats.
Therapist prescribed; emotions skated out. “Thanks to skating, I’m still living,” Marsak told AP. “It’s the place where I feel alive.” He admits insomnia, anxiety—and a stark truth: “It is really affecting the way we live, the way we think, the way we practice.”
The Music That Keeps Them Together
Tuesday’s free skate syncs with Andrea Bocelli’s “Fall On Me”, a duet with son Matteo. Marsak’s father wrangled rare military leave last April just to watch his son clinch Ukraine’s national title—third in a row—before returning to the trenches. “Even though we cannot see each other, we are still together,” Marsak says. It’s their family hymn.
His mother sews his costumes, flying from Kyiv to Milan for the finale. On Friday, if Marsak advances from Tuesday’s short program, she’ll see firsthand how war wear becomes dress code for courage.
Ukraine’s Sport of War: 46 Athletes, One Message
Sport in Ukraine now means blackouts interrupting workouts, sirens punctuating races. Yet they’ve shipped 46 athletes to Milan Cortina: skaters, biathletes, skiers. Youth Minister Matvii Bidnyi asserts, “We have the opportunity to raise our flag to show that Ukraine is resilient, Ukraine is still in power.”
Some athletes compete wearing body armor beneath uniforms; many train overseas. Domestic ice rinks are wiped off the map, but Marsak keeps the map dotted for those who remain.
Exile Invisible
Marsak isn’t the only refugee-turned-skater. Ukrainian-born Vadym Kolesnik, now competing for Team USA, gained citizenship last summer. He placed sixth Monday in the rhythm dance with Emilea Zingas; siblings back home have survived bombings, business losses, and years of separation.
The Olympic village in Milan has become a fragile socket lighting Kherson’s ghost. Kolesnik reunited with kin for the first time in four years thanks to GoFundMe flights.
Quick Facts: What’s at Stake Tuesday and Friday
- Short Program (Tuesday): 29 skaters chop down to 24 in “Fall On Me,” blending Bocelli and قرارد.
- Free Skate (Friday): Marsak’s freestyle track to Labrinth/Zendaya cues up theušcle of Ilia Malinin and Shun Sato.
- Choreography: Mother-designed costume orbitals kyiv, Kherson, and the Italian sky.
Fans Ask: How Can He Medal With Malinin in the Field?
Marsak himself answered pre-Olympics: “Success in sports always was a part of the Ukrainian national brand.” He doesn’t skate for hardware alone, but for his father’s next weekend leave—whenever that happens—and for the spectator who claps inside a basement bomb shelter.
For faster, deeper analysis on every athlete and moment at the Olympics, stay right here at onlytrustedinfo.com. We unpack stats and stories before every other outlet, ensuring you don’t just watch history—you understand it.
