Paris 2024: From a Ukrainian orphanage to the Paralympic stage

For Ukrainian Para badminton players Oksana Kozyna and Oleksandr Chyrkov, one face among the massed Paris 2024 Paralympics crowds meant more than any other.  

Svitlana Shabalaina was a teacher at the Dnipro orphanage for children with disabilities that they both grew up in, alongside fellow Paralympic stars Zoya Ovsiy and Anton Koi. 

Svitlana, conscious of the quality of nutrition that they were receiving, would often bring extra food to class for the pair, who showed sporting and leadership qualities from a young age. They kept in touch after leaving the orphanage, but that became more difficult when Oksana and Oleksandr left Ukraine when the war there started, to train overseas. 

Svitlana was also forced to leave the country in order to continue chemotherapy treatment following a cancer diagnosis, and moved to Sweden. 

A surprise reuniting 

It was there that a remarkable coincidence sparked a sequence of events that led to her surprising Oksana with her courtside presence in France. Svitlana was living unknowingly close to where Oleksandr was training in Sweden, and through mutual friends they met up, sharing regular Sunday dinners. 

Oleksandr explained: “Other teachers said she would be in the same location that I had my training camp. We had dinner, and we were talking about how our lives have changed, what I’m doing now and how everything has changed.  

“Afterwards we talked about how it would be great if she could come to Paris for the Paralympic Games. But they were just words, it didn’t mean it was going to happen.” 

It did happen though, with the support of an American documentary film crew that has been charting the pair’s remarkable story from their Dnipro orphanage to competing on a world stage. 

For Oksana, her teacher’s presence in Paris was a complete surprise. 

“I didn’t recognise her at first and then, when I recognised her, I just couldn’t believe it,” Oksana recalled. “I was so surprised and so happy to see her so that she could join us. 

“Every single time when I go on to the court, when I play in this Paralympic Games, I want to show everyone who cares about me - my school, my orphanage and my teacher behind me who helped me in my life. Svitlana is one of the reasons I’m here today being part of this great competition.” 

Spotting potential 

Svitlana herself saw resilience in both players from a young age. 

She said: “I worked more with Oksana but I looked at Oleksandr and he was a leader, he got people around him. He was a sport leader.  

“Oksana was trying to gather kids around her too, so they were like competitors already at that age. She wanted to be a manager, an organiser, a boss for everyone in her class.  

“In any situation, when they needed to switch on and pass exams - even if they didn’t do something before - they could find everything they needed before the deadline in one moment, very fast, to manage the questions. They are very different, but great kids.” 

Oleksandr’s badminton journey began when Ukrainian Para sport coach Dmytro Zozola visited the orphanage looking for potential athletes, and helped entice him to start with the promise of regular trips to McDonald’s. 

Oksana tried a host of different sports including shooting Para sport, sitting volleyball, Para powerlifting, Para rowing, karate and Para swimming before focusing her attention on Para badminton. 

Performing on the Paralympic stage 

In Paris, Oksana reached the SL3 bronze medal match before being beaten by Nigeria’s Mariam Eniola Bolaji, who became the first African player ever to win an Olympic or Paralympic badminton medal. 

Oleksandr bowed out in the group stages of his competition, although he did defeat New Zealander Wojtek Czyz, who had earned worldwide attention through his own courtside support, from his friend, the former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. 

Pride and responsibility

For both players, the presence of their childhood mentor Svitlana has added an extra dimension to their Paralympic experience. 

“It is a big responsibility to be honest, to go on the field in front of my teacher and other Ukranians,” Oleksandr said. “There are only two of us representing Ukrainian Para badminton. 

“We have never played in these huge competition venues. Having so much support helped us during the matches.” 

Oksana added: “I’m so proud that I can represent Ukraine here in Paris. I was asking God to give this opportunity for me. He knows how hard it was to go through everything to get to this competition.  

“He gave me even more than I could imagine, with this opportunity to represent my country, my Ukraine.” 

For Svitlana, it has been an unforgettable week in Paris. 

She added: “I’ve known them since they were 11 years old, so for a long, long time and I know everything about them. I saw how they’ve grown up.  

“There’s been a lot of emotions. I’m so excited and so, so proud of them.”