Involved over the way forward for his nation, Ukranian wrestler Zhan Beleniuk introduced his retirement after profitable a bronze medal on the Paris Olympics 2024. Belenuik, a gold and a silver medallist from the Tokyo Olympics 202 and Rio Olympics 2016, respectively, hung his wrestling boots to focus extra on his political profession. The 33-year-old beat Poland’s Arkadiusz Kulynycz 3-1in the bronze medal match within the Males’s -85 kg Greco-Roman occasion. For the unversed, Beleniuk grew to become the primary black member within the Ukrainian parliament in 2019.
After clinching a bronze at Paris 2024, Belenuik expressed his considerations about the way forward for Ukraine amidst conflict with Russia.
“In the present day, I’m very blissful that I can take the medal. However for me, as a Ukrainian citizen, as a Ukrainian athlete, it is rather vital that Ukraine needs to be sooner or later. As a result of we do not find out about our future, sadly,” Belenuik advised the reporters.
“It was a phenomenal profession, and I want everybody to have such a powerful finish of their profession. That is why this medal is so treasured for me — I’m sharing it with my nation. I’m sharing it with everybody who’s at conflict now, with all of the troopers who defend our nation and who defend our sleep,” he added.
Who’s Zhan Beleniuk?
A 3-time Olympic medallist, Belenuik was born in 1991 in Kyiv to a Rwandan father and a Ukranian mom. He started wrestling in 2000 when he was 9 years outdated.
Again in 2019, in the course of the Ukranian Parliamentary Elections, Belenuik was elected as a as a member of the Servant of the Individuals political social gathering.
Other than his wrestling profession, Belenuik has additionally served in Ukrain’s Nationwide Olympic Commitee, earlier than resigning from the submit in 2023 over a dispute with new president Vadym Gutzeit.
Belenuik can also be a two-time world wrestling champion, whereas additionally clinching one silver and two bronze on the Worlds.
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