ISTANBUL (AP) - Months ago, during a training session in a pool, Ukrainian war veteran Oleh Tserkovnyi was struck by a compelling idea. He proposed that a group of veterans swim across the Bosporus Strait, which separates Turkey’s European and Asian shores. This swim would take place on August 24, coinciding with Ukraine’s Independence Day, to highlight the ongoing toll of Russia's war on Ukraine, now in its fourth year.
Tserkovnyi shared his vision with fellow members of their One for Another support group, and despite their physical challenges, including amputations, two other veterans immediately joined him. The trio trained for several months, with support from the Superhumans Center, a veterans' rehabilitation clinic in Ukraine, and coaching from CapitalTRI, an amateur triathlon team in Kyiv. They also aimed to raise funds for prosthetics, which remain expensive and in high demand among wounded Ukrainians.
On August 24, the three veterans participated in the annual Bosphorus Intercontinental Swimming Race. The event, which has been held in Istanbul since 1989 and features more than 2,800 swimmers from 81 countries, involves a challenging 6.5-kilometer (4-mile) swim from Asia to Europe.
All three Ukrainian veterans completed the swim, taking over an hour to finish. Initially, they faced obstacles when organizers attempted to classify them in a separate category for competitors with disabilities. However, they persevered, swimming alongside the other competitors.
For these veterans, the swim represented more than a test of physical endurance; it symbolized reclaiming agency over their bodies altered by war and publicly sharing their recovery stories with a world that can appear indifferent to their struggles. Tserkovnyi emphasized the healing power of sports, stating, "Sport itself heals – we’ve seen that firsthand. And the community, it pulls you through. It pushes you, it disciplines you."
Tserkovnyi's journey toward recovery has been long and difficult, marked by challenges such as a stutter and involuntary twitches resulting from two severe concussions sustained during his service. His injuries stemmed from exposure to artillery fire while serving on the front lines. He described a profound loss of balance and the mental strain of persistent PTSD symptoms. Swimming provided him with an essential coping mechanism, helping him identify and manage his triggers.
Pavlo Tovstyk, another veteran and former engineer, volunteered for the Ukrainian military soon after Russia's invasion began. He suffered a life-changing injury from a landmine explosion, leading to the partial amputation of his left leg in June 2023. Swimming became a crucial part of his recovery; he secretly practiced in a pool while healing from his injury. "Water became a kind of savior for me," he explained, as it helped him regain his sense of self amidst the tumult of his new reality.
28-year-old Oleksandr Dashko, who lost his left leg after serving in the military and facing a mine explosion, found solace in swimming. Dashko initially struggled with depression and feelings of hopelessness after his injury. He expressed how physical goals, like swimming the Bosporus, rekindled his will to live and motivated him to move forward, not only for himself but also for fellow veterans.
The Bosphorus swim ultimately served as a powerful opportunity for the veterans to unite, reclaim their identities, and resonate with others who may face similar struggles. The event, set against the backdrop of a significant day in their nation, allowed them to transform personal challenges into a collective act of resilience and hope.
