Alexander gave his first comment as an Olympic champion.
Ukrainian boxer Alexander Khizhnyak spoke about winning a gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
In the final match in the weight category up to 80 kg, the 29-year-old athlete from Poltava won a split decision over Kazakhstan's Nurbek Oralbay.
“Endless gratitude to the Lord God for this award. The medal for which I lived all these years , before the Olympic Games in Paris, before this gold medal. I thank God that I am an Olympic champion.
Unlimited gratitude to our military for protecting peace and tranquility in my country at the cost of their own lives.
I would like to thank my father for helping me achieve this gold medal. This is our award together. I am grateful to my wife, who believed in me and never doubted for a second that we would succeed. I thank my family, my city, Ukrainians and the whole world for supporting me,” Suspilne Sport quotes the Ukrainian champion as saying.
Khizhnyak also answered the question of whether he plans to switch to professional boxing and whether he wants to compete at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
“This award will probably open a new door in my life. I can't say whether it's professional boxing or whether I'll continue my path as an amateur. It will take time. I'll go back home, spend time with my family, and then I'll decide how I'd like to continue my life.
I have been asked many times by professionals and amateurs. Until today, I have answered the same way: for me, the main goal was the Olympic Games and “gold” in Paris. I didn’t even consider whether they would be professionals or amateurs – all this time there was only one goal – the Olympics in Paris,” said Alexander.
For Khizhnyak, this is the second Olympic award in his career and the first gold; he was a silver medalist at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. Then, Alexander reached the final in the 75 kg weight category, but in the fight for the gold, he lost by knockout to Brazilian Herbert Souza.
Khizhnyak’s medal was the eighth for Ukraine at the current Olympics. Now the “blue-yellows” have three gold, two silver and three bronze medals.
Another medal, at least a silver one, was guaranteed for Ukraine by Greco-Roman wrestler Parviz Nasibov, who reached the final. Fight for the gold with his participation will take place on Thursday, August 8. On the same day, another representative of our country in Greco-Roman wrestling, Zhan Beleniuk, after a defeat in the semi-finals, will fight for the bronze medal.
Ukraine is represented at the XXXIII Summer Olympics by 140 athletes who compete in 23 sports. The Games in Paris will last until August 11.