Oleksandr Khyzhniak wins Ukraine’s third gold of Paris Olympics

Ukraine’s Oleksandr Khyzhniak (Blue) reacts after beating Kazakhstan’s Nurbek Oralbay in the men’s 80kg final boxing match during the Paris Olympics 2024 at the Roland-Garros Stadium, in Paris on August 7, 2024. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)

Ukraine won their third gold of the Paris Olympics 2024 on Wednesday when Oleksandr Khyzhniak blitzed to victory in the men’s 80kg boxing final at Roland Garros for the second Olympic medal of his career.

Khyzhniak claimed a split points decision victory over Kazakhstan’s Nurbek Oralbay to go one better than the silver he claimed at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.

On that occasion, Khyzhniak was knocked out in the final by Brazil’s Hebert Conceicao. He has not been beaten since.

The 29-year-old won four bouts to clinch gold in the French capital, including a points victory over Cuba’s two-time gold medallist Arlen Lopez in the semifinals.

“I’m ecstatic. Since I was a boy I’ve dreamed of being on this step of the podium” said Khyzhniak.

“But I’ve done it. It’s a gold medal for Ukraine.”

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The all-action Ukrainian raced after his Kazakh opponent from the opening bell.

Inevitably he could not keep up that pace, but he was the aggressor and busier of the fighters for most of an entertaining contest.

Oralbay was more methodical, twice connecting with the Ukrainian’s face in the second round to draw gasps from the crowd and leave the fight in the balance going into the third and final round.

When the verdict deservedly went his way, the Ukrainian collapsed to his knees in the ring.

War-torn Ukraine has also won gold in Paris through Yaroslava Mahuchikh in high jump and in the women’s saber team competition in fencing.

Mahuchikh dedicated her Olympic high jump gold medal on Sunday to the nearly 500 athletes and coaches who have been killed since Russia invaded her country in 2022.

Khyzhniak is from Poltava in central Ukraine and was born into a boxing family, with his father also a boxer in what was then the Soviet Union.

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The 29-year-old Khyzhniak was knocked out in the gold medal round at the Tokyo Games after outlasting Filipino Eumir Marcial in the semifinal.

In the final of the men’s 63.5kg division at Roland Garros, better known as the home of Grand Slam tennis, there was disappointment for the home fans.

Despite their best efforts to roar France’s Sofiane Oumiha to gold, he lost on split points to Cuba’s more accomplished Erislandy Alvarez.

Cuba is traditionally one of the superpowers of Olympic men’s boxing but this was their first and will be their only gold in the sport in Paris.

“It is incredible to be part of Cuba’s boxing history, we have such a great record,” said Alvarez, 24.

“I dedicate this gold medal to my grandmother, who sadly passed away, and I dedicate it to my country and to my old teacher who told me that I could achieve great things.

“With this gold medal I have.”