Ukrainian veteran Ivan Drozd finishes Chicago Marathon to honor his fallen son and brothers-in-arms
Photo source: UNBROKEN
Ukrainian veteran Ivan Drozd completed the 42-kilometer course at the Chicago Marathon on October 11. The race marks his third finish in the World Marathon Majors series, a suite of six world-renowned marathons he dreams of completing. He runs in memory of his son, Andrii, and his fallen brothers-in-arms who died in the war.
According to Rubryka, the UNBROKEN press service reported that Ivan is a veteran of the Russo-Ukrainian war who suffered severe injuries and lost part of his left arm while defending Popasna. During his lengthy rehabilitation, he received word that his son, Andrii, had died during a combat mission. Engaging in sports—a passion since his youth—helped the defender rediscover purpose after his loss.
"I spent a long time recovering, and my niece suggested I try out for the Invictus Games. After running a kilometer and a half, I realized how much I enjoyed it. That short distance pulled me into running," the veteran shares.
Photo source: UNBROKEN
Currently, one of the defender's primary athletic goals is to complete all six World Marathon Majors, held in Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York. The UNBROKEN Charitable Foundation, in cooperation with the tech company Sine.Engineering, helped turn his goal into reality this year.
"We have supported Ivan for three years and celebrate every finish line he crosses. Helping him achieve his goals is deeply important to us. We thank Sine for joining this journey," states Oleksandr Kobzarev, Director of the UNBROKEN Foundation.
Photo source: UNBROKEN
The Chicago Marathon represented the midpoint on his journey: Ivan covered the 42-kilometer distance in 3 hours and 41 minutes. He dedicates all of his athletic achievements to the memory of his son and fallen brothers-in-arms.
Photo source: UNBROKEN
"Continuing to run and realizing my dream is important to me. Three out of six marathons remain ahead, and I am determined to conquer them all. I run to remember. So if I need to run a hundred world marathons, I will run a hundred," the defender says.
Background
It should be noted that 142 war veterans and active military personnel gathered in Berdychiv, Zhytomyr region, for the final stage of the all-Ukrainian "Strong of Ukraine" competition, where the organizers adapted strength disciplines to accommodate participants' varying physical conditions.
It was also reported that the national "Veteran Sport" program will continue its work, though a new phase will not launch in October. Authorities plan to launch it permanently in 2027, revising the mechanism so that targeted funds flow directly to veterans actively engaged in sports.
