“Vitaly Merinov went to war on the first day of a full-scale invasion. During one of the battles, he suffered a gunshot wound to the leg from shrapnel. He recovered, returned to the front and defended Ukraine until his last breath,” the mayor of the city of Ivano-Frankivsk, where Vitaly served as a member of the executive committee of the city council, wrote on Facebook.
In addition to four world kickboxing titles, 33-year-old Vitaly also had the title of champion of Ukraine in all-round combat (i.e. unifight) or the title of master of sports in boxing, which is one of the sports titles awarded in the Eastern European country. In recent years, he also worked as a coach.
“In such a short life, Vitalij achieved an incredible amount, and above all, he was able to unite, raise and train many boys and girls, for whom he became not only a coach, but also a friend, mentor, father and a model of decency. During his life, he helped many people by word and deed,” the sports club where he worked remembers the fallen soldier.
“The gym he organized and opened will continue to operate. Pupils, their parents and coaches bow before you and assure you that the work you have done will have its dignified continuation,” reads the Instagram post. “Thank you for everything. Your memory will live forever in our hearts!”
The athlete, who left behind a wife and a two-year-old daughter, is already being remembered by his friends. “Sadness, pain and emptiness because my friend is gone. I wish it wasn’t real,” wrote Andrij Gatty on Instagram. “Brave fighter, friend, Vitaly, you will be missed by all.”
“You were a true friend, brother. You will stay in my heart forever! The tears won’t stop, I can’t believe it,” reads another of the memorial texts on the networks, this time from Ivan Grushka.
Vitaly’s name has now been added to the long list of Ukrainian athletes who died as a result of Russian aggression. In March, Seznam Zprávy reported, for example, that boxer and Olympian Maxim Galinichev died in the war at the age of 22. He enlisted in the army in the spring of last year and refused to participate in the European Championship because of the defense of his country.
In February, Ukraine also irretrievably lost 22-year-old Volodymyr Androschuk, who was the hope of the Ukrainian decathlon and would almost certainly qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris, which are to be held next year. At the time, the young man was the second world-famous Ukrainian athlete to lose his life in the conflict. The first was figure skater Dmytro Šarpar.
Russians and Belarusians can go to Wimbledon
Russian and Belarusian athletes can compete in a neutral jersey at Wimbledon this year. However, players who want to participate in the famous tournament will have to comply with certain conditions. For example, not expressing support for the leaders of their countries.
News of Vitaly’s death comes at a time when debate is raging over whether Russian and Belarusian athletes should be allowed to compete in international competitions, including the upcoming Paris Olympics.
At the Olympic Games, Russian athletes have not competed under their country’s flag since 2016, when organizers did not allow a third of the Russian team to compete based on revelations of state-organized doping. Although Russia denies the blame, the Russian representatives could not participate in the next games on behalf of their country.
However, Russian athletes did not completely disappear from the Olympics, they were allowed to participate under the conditions that although they could have the name of their country and its colors written on their clothing, the words emphasizing that they were “neutral” had to be equally dominant. Spectators will perhaps see a similar spectacle next year in Paris or at the Wimbledon tennis tournament, where the organizers allowed the participation of Russians and Belarusians on Friday.
