Ukrainian Olympian Yuri Cheban auctioning medals to help war effort | CBC Sports

One of Ukraine’s most adorned Olympians is auctioning his medals — two golds and a bronze — in hopes of elevating a six-figure donation to contribute to the battle effort in his place of origin.

“My Olympic medals won’t matter if Ukraine can’t stand for this fight for freedom and independence,” retired dash canoeist Yuri Cheban advised The Associated Press in an electronic mail trade Wednesday.

Cheban received Olympic gold within the 200 metres in 2012 and 2016 and a bronze within the 500 metres in 2008. SCP Auctions, which is conducting the sale, expects the gold medals to fetch within the neighborhood of $75,000 US every, a powerful estimate buoyed by the relative shortage of accessible latest medals, and in addition their that means.

Cheban will give the proceeds to the Olympic Circle charity fund, a set began by athletes and focused towards serving to town of Mykolaiv, which is not removed from the not too long ago liberated metropolis of Kherson and in addition near Cheban’s residence, the Black Sea port metropolis of Odessa.

“I think a lot of people in the world don’t know the full extent of the situation in Ukraine,” the 36-year-old Cheban mentioned. “Right now, peaceful Ukrainian cities are without electricity, hospitals, schools, stores. People are freezing in their own apartments and some of my family is trying to live and work under these conditions.”

Inspired by former NBA participant Medvedenko

Cheban mentioned the concept to public sale his medals got here from countryman Slava Medvedenko, a former skilled basketball participant who auctioned off his two championship rings from his time with the Los Angeles Lakers (2001 and 2002) to fund the battle effort. Medvedenko’s rings offered for a complete of greater than $253,000.

On Wednesday at its conferences in Rome, World Athletics introduced considered one of its highest honours, the President’s Award, to the Ukrainian Athletic Association. The federation’s performing president, Yevhen Pronin, mentioned Ukraine’s presence at worldwide meets was useful partially as a result of it offers “our sportsmen and officials a chance to communicate with media to let them know what’s happening in Ukraine.”

Cheban mentioned he was “pessimistic” that sports activities alone can cease the assaults on Ukraine.

“But selling the medals of famous athletes can help save many Ukrainian lives and provide necessary equipment for the army,” he mentioned. “We need to be realistic.”

The public sale runs by means of Dec. 10.