The snaking course was a lot of fun,” said an exhausted Olena Buryak, shortly after completing the famous Head Of The Charles Regatta (HOCR) course. “It was very long for us, but we did it. We still don't know the result but we are satisfied because we finished with the cox inside the boat! We've seen a lot of Ukrainian flags and we've heard a lot of words of support for Ukraine. We couldn't answer them while we were racing but we heard them all and we are very happy that so many people came to support and cheer for us.”
The Ukrainian women ranked ninth and their men, twelfth, in their respective Men’s and Women’s Championship Eights events – but these crews were racing for so much more than position or time. Every stroke the Ukrainians take is an act of defiance in the face of war, and a show of national resilience, strength and survival.
“It was emotional. It was absolutely emotional,” said Ukraine’s M8+ strokeman Dmytro Hula who raced the HOCR at two-seat. “As we were warming up, everyone was cheering. It was a bit hard to warm up without looking everywhere and raising our hands to show our gratitude, and to show that you hear the people.” Of the race itself, Hula said, “I will be honest; it was hard because we are prepared for the 2000m distance. It's about a month since the Worlds and we haven't had time to adapt our physiology. Still, it was great and the atmosphere was awesome. Everyone was cheering us up and down the course. Even as we crossed the start line an official on the louder speaker said, ‘Go Ukraine! Welcome to the Head of The Charles’. It was so nice to feel welcome here.”