“I am at a loss for words”
Ukrainian biathlete thanks Norway stars
01/12/2025 – 8:29 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
The Ukrainian biathlete Dmytro Pidrutschnyj was still fighting at the front in 2022. Now he has impressed in Oberhof – and was honored by the Norwegian stars.
There were actually three Norwegians on the podium in Oberhof after the pursuit race on Saturday. Sturla Holm Laegreid secured victory ahead of his teammates Tarjei Bö and Johannes Thingnes Bö. But the Norwegian stars had thought about something for the moment of honor and wanted to express their respect to one person: Dmytro Pidrutschnyj.
The Ukrainian, who fought for his country at the front in 2022 and shared this on Instagram at the time, now impressed in both the sprint and the pursuit at the World Cup in Oberhof. Pidrutschnyj finished fourth in the sprint and sixth in the pursuit on Saturday.
Therefore, the Norwegian biathletes unpacked the Ukrainian flag at the award ceremony and held it up. Pidruchnyj stood in front of them on the left. French athletes Quentin Fillon Maillet and Eric Perrot also stood on the right to express their respect for their Ukrainian competitor.
Dmytro Pidrushnyj told the Norwegian public radio station “NRK”: “I’m at a loss for words.” He also added: “It is so important that the boys say that they want to fly the flag with me. I would like to thank them and all of Norway for their support.”
Laegreid explained the reasons: “We all know what is going on in Ukraine, in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. That’s why we want to show our support for Pidrushnyj and the rest of the Ukrainian people.” Johannes Thingnes Bö also signed some starting numbers that were auctioned off.
The biathlon star said: “One of the start numbers that I signed brought in 6,000 euros. The proceeds were donated to various schools in Ukraine.”