Cyclist Denys Fishchuk has won a bronze medal in the cycling competition at the Invictus Games, bringing Ukraine’s national team its first medal on the first day of the event, the Ministry of Defense reported on Oct. 21.
The Invictus Games are an annual international Paralympic tournament for invalided soldiers and veterans. This event, the fourth games, is being held this year in Sydney, Australia, on Oct. 20-27.
“This is the first medal of Ukraine’s team this year and Ukraine’s first medal in cycling in two years,” the ministry said.
Fishchuk, a resident of the city of Cherkasy in central Ukraine, is a veteran of the SBU state security service, who has received a head injury as a result of a mine explosion while fighting in the Donbas war.
Fishchuk said the cycling track was rather steep and fast for amateurs. “The highest speed was 60 kilometers per hour. Generally, I’m satisfied with my performance. I did all I could,” he said, quoted in a Ministry of Defense press release.
The Invictus Games were launched in 2014 in London at the initiative of Britain’s Prince Harry. In 2018, a total of 18 countries are participating.
Ukraine’s team at the games consists of 15 athletes who are competing in six sports.
