War in Ukraine Forces Belarusian Olympic Medalist Aliaksandra Herasimenia to Flee

Photo Courtesy: SIPA USA

War in Ukraine Forces Belarusian Olympic Medalist Aliaksandra Herasimenia to Flee

Geopolitical unrest in Eastern Europe have caused Olympic medalist Aliaksandra Herasimenia to flee for the second time in several years.

Herasimenia, a three-time Olympic medalist for Belarus, had been living in Ukraine since 2020, when she was one of a number of public figures to protest what was widely seen as a fraudulent election propping up Russian-backed president Alexander Lukashenko. But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with help staging weapons engagements in Belarus, has forced Herasimenia to join the thousands fleeing Ukraine.

Herasimenia, her husband, fellow Olympic swimmer Yauhen Tsurkin, their three-year-old daughter Sofia and Herasimenia’s mother drove 12 hours to the border with Poland on the second day of the invasion on Feb. 24 to escape Ukraine. They waited for more than a day at the border, with shelling in the distance, in order to reach Poland. (Herasimenia documented the evacuation ordeal in a series of Instagram posts this week.)

“We’ve been running for a long time,” Herasimenia told Reuters this week, once the family had settled in Warsaw. “Those who left were the best of Belarusian society, those who were against what happened after the election, those who spoke out against the violence and expressed their position.”

Herasimenia is one of the most decorated swimmers in Belarus history. The 36-year-old native of Minsk won silver in the 50 and 100 freestyle at the 2012 London Olympics. She returned four years later to net bronze in the 50 in Rio. Her lengthy CV includes dozens of international medals, including three at Worlds (highlighted by gold in the 100 free in 2011) and a World Short-Course gold in the 50 free in 2012. She’s a two-time European Champion (in the long-course 50 back and short-course 50 free).

Herasimenia joined the Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation, supporting athletes who have been jailed or punished for political views that oppose the Kremlin-backed regime. (Among them is track and field athlete Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, who defected during the Tokyo Olympics.) That group has joined many others in favoring the expulsion of Russian and Belorussian athletes from international competition, which the IOC, FIFA and other governing bodies have adopted to varying degrees.

After denouncing Lukashenko, Herasimenia fled the country to avoid charges. She originally found refuge in Lithuania, before the family moved to Ukraine.

“A year and a half ago, we were the ones who were fighting for our rights, our freedom,” Herasimenia said. “We called on the Europeans, Americans and everyone in Ukraine for help. We warned that Lukashenko was very dangerous. It’s as if this never happened … No difference is being made between those who support Lukashenko and those who fought against him.”

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