A 13-year-old Ukrainian who won bronze at an international karate competition has sparked controversy after the teenage Ukrainian athlete refused to join a group photo with a Russian competitor at a major youth tournament in Spain.
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The youngster, 13-year-old Yevhenii Melnyk, was competing in the under-45kg category at the Youth Karate League in Guadalajara, Spain.
Melnyk earned a bronze medal alongside Spanish competitor Beltran Tamargo Salgado, while Saudi Arabian Abdullah Albishi secured silver and "neutral" Russian athlete Igor Grigorev won gold.
In a now circulating video on social media, Melnyk declined to take the traditional podium photo with a “neutral” athlete. He declined to shake hands with the winner, instead marching away and waving aside entreaties for him to stay. His solo protest has made him a national hero in Ukraine, with his defiance going viral on social media.
Several Ukrainian athletes were also reported to have refused to shake hands or pose for photos with their Russian counterparts in protest against Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Tennis players Marta Kostyuk and Elina Svitolina have taken similar stances, opting to forgo handshakes or make symbolic gestures during international events. Many on social media have praised them as symbols of national pride and quiet resistance, especially as the war approaches its third year.
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