“They admire us”: guardsman on veteran sports competitions in the USA (VIDEO)
Igor Butenko is a soldier of the National Guard of Ukraine, who recently returned from the international sports competitions of American veterans and military #UnitedStatesAirForceTrials2024. This is an annual competition among servicemen and veterans who have been injured or injured during military service.
The guard performed as part of the Ukrainian national team and won two medals — “silver” in powerlifting competitions and “bronze” in rowing on the simulator.
In total, Ukrainian soldiers brought 76 medals to Ukraine. By the way, the captain of the Ukrainian national team is also a veteran and a soldier of the National Guard — Yuri Gaponchuk.
Igor himself is from Kherson. He has been involved in sports all his life, although he does not consider himself a professional athlete. Before the war, the man was a long-distance sailor.
On February 25, 2022, he had a scheduled plane to Australia where he was waiting for a contract. The attack of the Russians forced the man to radically change plans. Together with his wife and child, he left Kherson on the first day of the war, and a few days later he came to the military enlistment office to join the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
“We took a bus from Kherson to Lviv and already on the way I decided to join the army. I was in a state of indignation at the time. They deprived me of the opportunity to communicate with the child, left her sporting future. Since the age of 4 we have been engaged in figure skating in Kherson. Therefore, I have a personal dislike and claim to this non-nationality of the Russians,” Igor says.
In the fall of 2022, a guard was wounded while performing a combat mission near Vuhledar. The injury was not severe, but painful. After treatment and rehabilitation, the guard resumed sports training and when he learned about the selection to the national team to compete in the United States, he applied, passed several stages and was included in the list of 30 Ukrainian athletes - future participants of the United States Air Force Trials 2024.
The guard says that most of all at these competitions he was struck by the atmosphere.
“The American side very warmly greeted us as heroes. We do not consider ourselves heroes, but everything was very warm and with tears in our eyes. Both Americans and Georgians. We felt a lot of support. Warriors from other countries, usually, do not understand how we can hold on and have a positive attitude. In my opinion, they admire us. You feel their support. Americans, nation and servicemen — they are very positive and friendly. Always smiling. They are not in a hurry. They are cool people,” Igor shares his emotions.
This atmosphere of sports competitions, according to the guard, promotes rehabilitation and raises morale and the desire to overcome obstacles, work and not give up. When wounded soldiers see other people with injuries and these people win medals and show results, it's inspiring and motivating.
“It helps to understand that you are not alone — you are among your own. And life does not stop. After all, there are very heavy losses. You recharge yourself when you look at guys who have lost both legs or an arm and they are on the positive. Sometimes they even have black humor. These are people who are very inspiring. Guys, I love you!” says the guard.
At present, Igor Butenko continues to serve in the National Guard and continues to train. A man knows from his own life experience that stubbornness, effort and courage lead to victory. One of the prerequisites for a good sports performance is a clear understanding of the goal and a vision of the future goal. Therefore, Igor has a plan, what he will do after the victory of Ukraine. This plan is simple but specific.
“First of all, I would like to take flowers and go to the graves of all the brothers who did not return and whom I knew personally. Wear uniforms and awards. The guys who did not return gave their lives for Ukraine. It is a pity that they did not live to the time of victory,” Igor reflects.
More about how Igor Butenko won the competition in the United States, the reputation of Ukrainian soldiers among the American military and about the soul-healing sport - see the story.
National Guard of Ukraine
