Ukrainian boxer Khyzhniak wins gold at Paris Olympics and secures third victory for Ukraine
Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Khyzhniak has been crowned the Olympic boxing champion of Paris–2024. In the 80 kg weight category, Khyzhniak won a split decision over Kazakhstan's Nurbek Oralbay.
The broadcast of the fight evidences this.
Khyzhniak immediately took the offensive, delivering numerous hits to his opponent in his signature style. Oralbay retaliated flawlessly, landing a side strike as he backed out. Ultimately, the judges unanimously declared the Ukrainian the winner after three minutes of fierce competition.
After the break, Oleksandr continued to fight, and Nurbek started grappling with the Ukrainian boxer. Khyzhniak's pressure was evident on the Kazakh's face, who had a nosebleed, but Oralbay's successful combinations aided in winning this round. As the final 3 minutes approached, the judges' scorecards showed a draw.
In the third round, Nurbek got some medical assistance, and then both fighters resumed exchanging punches from close range. Oralbay attempted to hold onto the Ukrainian, but Khyzhniak kept relentlessly throwing punches. Towards the end of the match, Oleksandr trapped his opponent in a corner and kept attacking his blocked shots.
The judges unanimously declared Oleksandr Khyzhniak as the winner of the last round. The match concluded with a final score of 30:27, 30:27, 28:29, 29:28, 29:28.
"Immense gratitude to God for this award. The medal for which I lived until these Olympic Games. I thank God that I am an Olympic champion. My heart is also filled with immense gratitude towards our military for sacrificing their lives to protect peace and tranquility in our country. I cannot thank my father enough for his support and guidance in helping me achieve this gold medal. I am also grateful to my wife for always believing in me and never doubting our success. I want to express my gratitude to my family, my city, and the entire world for their unwavering support," Oleksandr emphasized after the victory
He also noted:
"When I stood on the podium, and the national anthem sounded, I remembered all this journey: all the training, all the work, my life, how I woke up and fell asleep. The only thought was: "gold" of the Olympics. And when the flag of Ukraine was raised… I love my country; I love everything in my country: land, water, and air. No matter where I go, I am always drawn to Ukraine. And when the flag of Ukraine was raised, I thanked God that the flag was raised at the highest competitions, and the anthem was played a lot. People sang it. It was precious to me, and difficult to hold back tears. I felt these emotions through me with every cell of my body."
A 29-year-old athlete from Poltava secured his first Olympic gold medal. Khyzhniak, who competed in the weight category up to 75 kg, took home the silver medal in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Despite his efforts, in the final, he was defeated by Brazil's Hebert Conceição, who won by technical knockout in the third round.
The 24-year-old Oralbay is the 2023 world champion. These Olympic Games were the first in his career.
It is worth mentioning that Khyzhniak won against Hungary's ex-Ukrainian Pylyp Akilov by split decision in the 1/8 finals, and in the quarterfinals, he beat Brazil's Wanderley Pereira. Oleksandr defeated two-time Olympic champion Arlen Lopez in the fight to reach the finals.
It should be noted that Khyzhniak was the last Ukrainian boxer at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, expressed his gratitude to boxer Oleksandr Khizhnyak, who won the Olympic gold medal and brought Ukraine its third one in Paris.
"Another gold medal at the Olympics in Paris – for Ukraine!
Boxer Oleksandr Khyzhniak won first place. Thank you for the strength, confidence, and this significant victory!
We continue to support all our athletes. We are rooting for Ukraine; we are rooting for Ukrainians!" the head of state said.
All Ukrainian champions of the Olympic Games in boxing
- Volodymyr Klitschko (1996) — more than 91 kg;
- Vasyl Lomachenko (2008) — up to 57 kg; (2012) — up to 60 kg
- Oleksandr Usyk (2012) — up to 91 kg;
- Oleksandr Khyzhniak (2024) — up to 80 kg;
For reference:
Khyzhniak's win not only secured a third medal for the Ukrainian team at the 2024 Olympic Games, but it will also greatly enhance the financial standing of the Poltava hometown hero.
First, he will receive a $125,000 Olympic reward from the government for winning the gold medal. Then, the undisputed world champion of professional boxing, Oleksandr Usyk, will personally give him an extra Olympic reward.
Usyk placed a value of 50,000 dollars on the bronze medal, 75,000 dollars on the silver medal, and 100,000 dollars on the gold medal.
So Oleksandr Khyzhniak will receive 225 thousand dollars for winning the gold medal (125 thousand from the government and 100 thousand from Usyk).
Achievements of Ukraine at the 2024 Olympics
On July 26, the opening ceremony of the XXXIII Summer Olympic Games was held in the capital of France, Paris, officially kicking off the biggest sports event in the world. This year, for the first time, the celebrations were held not at the stadium but on the water. The 2024 Olympic Games will be held from July 26 to August 11.
- On July 29, saber fencer Olha Kharlan brought Ukraine the first medal of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris—she won the "bronze" medal in the individual saber fencing tournament.
- On August 1, Serhii Kulish won silver in rifle shooting from three positions at 50 m, giving Ukraine its second award of the 2024 Games.
- On August 2, boxer Oleksandr Khyzhniak succeeded by advancing to the semi-finals of the 2024 Olympics, which secured him a medal. He competed against Brazilian fighter Wanderley de Souza Pereira and ultimately won by a unanimous decision by the judges in favor of the Ukrainian.
- On August 3, in the finals of the 2024 Olympics, Ukraine won a gold medal in saber fencing in the women's team. For the first time, the Ukrainian national anthem was played during the winners' award ceremony at the 2024 Olympics.
- Ukrainian track and field star Yaroslava Mahuchikh won gold in the high jump on August 4, earning the top spot in the final at the 2024 Olympic Games. Fellow Ukrainian jumper Iryna Gerashchenko also won bronze.
- On August 4, Ukrainian hammer thrower Mykhailo Kokhan became the bronze medalist of the 2024 Olympic Games. His best result is 79.39 m.
- On August 5, Ukrainian gymnast Illia Kovtun won a silver medal in the parallel bars competition at the 2024 Olympics.
