Yesterday, a ceremonial meeting of Ukrainian Olympians returning from the 2024 Games in Paris was held at the Kyiv railway station. Among the arrivals were bronze medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling Jean Beleniuk, silver medalists and two-time medalist Olga Kharlan. The meeting was attended by the President of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Ukraine Vadym Gutzait and the Minister of Youth and Sports Matviy Bidny.
During the solemn event, Zhan Beleniuk shook hands only with Minister Bidny, ignoring Vadym Gutzait. When asked by a journalist about the reasons for such behavior, the athlete replied that they do not communicate.
This incident is a continuation of a long-standing conflict between Beleniuk and Gutzeit. The NOC President did not congratulate Jean Beleniuk for his bronze medal at the Olympics, while other Ukrainian medalists received congratulations from Gutzeit. Previously, Gutzeit publicly congratulated all Ukrainian athletes who won medals at the Games, but Beleniuk remained out of his sight.
According to Belenyuk's latest statements, he is indifferent to Gutzeit's behavior. The athlete emphasized that his personal relationship with the NOC head does not affect his sporting achievements.
Against this backdrop of conflict, the ceremonial meeting of Ukrainian Olympians at the train station was a touching moment of unity. The athletes, together with the fans, performed the Ukrainian anthem, emphasizing their pride in their achievements on the international stage, despite internal disputes.
