It's no longer personal for Ukraine’s Olympians. This time, it’s war

Athletes from the war-devastated nation have been forced to look inside themselves, questioning whether it’s morally right to 'just train' when others are defending front lines.

High jumper Oleh Doroshchuk works out during a training session at Zirka stadium, in Kropyvnytskyi, Ukraine. Pic: Francisco Seco, AP

For Ukrainian hurdler Anna Ryzhykova, each stride on the Paris Olympic track will have meaning far beyond the time she clocks.

Her competitions are no longer strictly an individual battle, but war on a different front. Her goal is not just gold, but also to rivet global attention on her country’s fight for survival against Russia.