CHERNIHIV, Ukraine — In the war-scarred landscapes of northern Ukraine, a remarkable story of resilience unfolds daily at the Sports Ski Base of the Olympic Reserve. Approximately 350 young cross-country skiers and biathletes continue their training regimen amidst the persistent threats of aerial attacks, transforming their athletic pursuits into acts of national defiance.
The sprawling complex, which produced Ukraine’s first Olympic medalist, now operates with bombed-out dormitories and restricted training areas due to unexploded ordnance. Training sessions proceed with surreal normalcy until air raid sirens pierce the silence, triggering swift but practiced evacuations to underground shelters.
Mykola Vorchak, a 67-year-old coach, observes profound psychological adaptation among his athletes. “We have adapted so well—even the children—that sometimes we don’t even react,” he noted in an October interview. “Although it goes against safety rules, the children have been hardened by the war.”
The facility lies on the outskirts of Chernihiv, a city two hours north of Kyiv that remains a regular target for attacks on energy infrastructure. Athletes train on blast-marked asphalt tracks using roller skis during non-winter months and practice shooting with laser rifles at electronic targets. The sporadic buzz of drones and subsequent explosions form an ever-present backdrop to their athletic development.
The complex’s historical significance adds poignancy to its current state. Valentyna Tserbe-Nesina, who won bronze at the 1994 Lillehammer Games—Ukraine’s first Olympic medal as an independent nation—described her shock upon visiting the damaged facility. “I went inside, up to my old room on the second floor. It was gone—no windows, nothing,” she recalled, noting how fire had consumed the trophies they had left behind.
Among those training at the damaged facility is Khrystyna Dmytrenko, 26, who will represent Ukraine at the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Having completed a tour in Ukraine’s territorial defense forces in 2022, she now sees sports as a demonstration of national strength. “We represent Ukraine on the international stage,” Dmytrenko stated, “letting other countries see our unity, strength and determination.”
The upcoming Games carry additional significance as Russian athletes may compete in certain events after International Olympic Committee vetting, though without national symbols. This context makes the training efforts in Chernihiv particularly symbolic, with former Olympic biathlete Nina Lemesh noting that some young athletes who began training during wartime have already become international champions in their age groups.
Standing beside the destroyed dormitories, Lemesh expressed confidence in Ukraine’s athletic future: “Fortunately, Ukrainians remain here. They always will. This is the next generation of Olympians.”