President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the athletes of Ukraine’s National Deaflympics Team, who won 100 medals – the highest medal count among all teams – at the 25th Summer Deaflympics in Tokyo, and presented them with state awards.
“You win every day. You overcome hardship, doubt, fear. And at the same time, you achieve success – real success in the sports arena. You prove to the world that Ukrainians are a nation that knows how to win and that does win. Your incredible results at the Deaflympics in Tokyo prove this,” the Head of State noted.
The President congratulated the athletes on their victory and, on behalf of all Ukrainians, thanked the Deaflympics athletes and their coaches.
“This is a moment of joy for the entire country in such a difficult time, when achievements like these are so needed, when victories like these are so needed. You show the world not only our willpower. You remind everyone of this war – of how Ukraine is living, how Ukraine is fighting. Fighting for life, fighting for a dignified peace,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed.
The Head of State presented the athletes with the Orders of Merit, I–III class, and the Orders of Princess Olga, I–III class.
In addition, Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the coaches of the National Deaflympics Team with the Orders of Merit, I–III class, and the Orders of Princess Olga, II and III class, as well as bestowed the honorary title of “Merited Worker of Physical Culture and Sports of Ukraine.”
At the 25th Summer Deaflympics, Ukraine’s National Team, which included 174 athletes, won 32 gold, 39 silver, and 29 bronze medals. Based on the results, Ukraine secured first place in the overall team standings among 81 countries, both in the number of gold medals and in the total medal count. Nine Ukrainian athletes set eight world records and 12 Deaflympics records.