Sawt Falasteen - Brother's welfare weighs on Ukrainian hurdler Tkachuk's mind

The 29-year-old, a European silver medallist in 2022, told AFP she always "has his photograph" on her and they exchange messages regularly.

Ivan was called up in May last year to fight the Russians, who invaded Ukraine on President Vladimir Putin's orders in February 2022.

"He often asks me about my feelings and health, and I often ask him if he ate well and had a chance to sleep or have a rest," Tkachuk said in an interview with AFP before the Olympics.

"We try to stay in touch as often as possible. We support each other and that's the most important thing!"

Her brother -- who she last saw in February -- is also blessed with a dark sense of humour, as she revealed following her heat in the Stade de France.

The family have a WhatsApp group to exchange pictures. "A few days ago he sent a picture, and he said I have a hotel with a nice view, and it was the field of the frontline!

"Then he sent me a photograph of his breakfast, and it was just milk or something, and he said, look, I have also something nice!" she added, chuckling.

Tkachuk said so much had changed since she finished sixth in the Olympic final in Tokyo three years ago.

"We discussed it with my friends and remembered how nice and easy everything was before the full-scale war started!" she said.

"It is impossible to compare the preparations for Tokyo and Paris, because they are completely different things.

"Now everything is much more difficult, personally for me."

- 'Troubles around me' -

Tkachuk has performed wonders to even get to Paris after a season blighted by injury.

However, she has received constant support from Dutch star Femke Bol, who invited her to come and train with her group in 2022.

Tkachuk's Italy-based coach had taken on the Qatari team and said he could no longer coach her.

"I asked the coach of Femke, and of course he was speaking first with Femke, if it's okay," she said.

"Then I received a message from Femke, welcome to the team, and it was so cute, because they really supported me a lot in every part, and of course even now, when I'm injured."

The two cut quite a contrast on Sunday.

Bol, who ran a remarkable last leg in Saturday's 4x400m mixed relay to grab gold for the Netherlands, coasted in her 400m hurdles heat. Tkachuk in contrast was clearly rusty but she ran "without pain".

She also had support in the stands. Her mother Roslana had travelled from their home about 200 kilometres (125 miles) from the Polish border with a friend.

Support, though, has never been far away, like when she was at a low ebb.

"When I'm injured, Femke was sending me voice messages with support," she said.

"Femke said to me you are doing every day from your side 200%, so you should be proud that you are doing your best every day, and enjoy your journey."

Tkachuk said she was unhappy with her performance on Sunday, but she was consoled by what others told her.

"I was fighting with myself to show to myself, to my family, to my brother, to my friends, that I could do this, even with these troubles around," she said.

"But some training partners and athletes from other countries, say to me, the important thing for you it will be already your gold that you stand on the start line without pain."

Y.AlMasri--SF-PST