Ukrainian athletes serve in the war against Russia
Less than two weeks ago, Dmytro Pidruchnyi was competing at the Winter Olympics in Ukraine's national colors. Now he's wearing a military uniform and ballistic helmet.
Pidruchnyi is a world champion in biathlon, which combines skiing and shooting, and a threetime Olympian. He returned home from Beijing last week just before Russia launched its invasion of his country.
“I'm currently in my hometown Ternopil serving in the National Guard of Ukraine,” he posted on Instagram on Tuesday under a picture in uniform. “This photo was taken during air alarm.”
Pidruychnyi also made a memorial statement for Yevhen Malyshev, a 19-year-old former athlete on Ukraine's junior biathlon team. The exact circumstances of Malyshev's death are unclear, but the International Biathlon Union said Wednesday he “died this week serving in the Ukrainian military.”
Pidruchnyi is one of many athletes who have joined up with the Ukrainian armed forces.
Tennis player Serhiy Stakhovskiy had been taking some time away from the game after retiring in January following the Australian Open. When Russia invaded, he returned to Ukraine from his home in Hungary and joined up.
“I'm still not sure how I've done it. I know that it's extremely hard on my wife. My kids don't know that I'm here,” Stakhovsky, who spent nearly two decades on the tennis tour, told the BBC on Tuesday. “They don't understand war. They're too little to understand what's going on.”
Former boxing world champion Vasyl Lomachenko has joined a territorial defense unit, he posted on social media, and world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has also been pictured holding a rifle. Usyk is originally from Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.
Two other former champions, Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, have symbolic non-combat roles in Ukraine's defense. Vitali is the mayor of Kyiv and Wladimir is a trusted adviser.
NFL CARDINALS PASS OUT EXTENSIONS
>> The Arizona Cardinals have signed coach Kliff Kingsbury and general manager Steve Keim to extensions that keep them under contract with the team through 2027.
The moves give some security to the two men who helped guide the franchise to rapid improvement over the past three seasons, but who also oversaw a headscratching collapse last season after a 10-2 start to the schedule.
“The leadership of both Steve and Kliff have been key factors in the team's turnaround over the last three seasons,” Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill said in a statement. “We are all looking forward to continuing that progress and recognize these two individuals will be a big part of achieving our long-term goals as an organization.”
Bidwill's support for his coach and his general manager come during an offseason that's developed into a surprise cold war between star young quarterback Kyler Murray and the franchise. The passive-aggressive spat has featured Murray wiping his social media account of any references to the Cardinals, and an all-caps letter from the quarterback's agent Erik Burkhardt, who said that the quarterback wants to sign a long-term deal in Arizona.
WILSON STAYING PUT >> Pete Carroll says the Seattle Seahawks aren't open for business when teams may inquire about the availability of quarterback Russell Wilson this offseason.
“That's commonplace for us to have conversations with teams about all of the players, particularly marquee players, and that's not changed,” Carroll said on Wednesday. “It's been the same every year we've been here so it's the same as it's been. We have no intention of making any move there.”
Carroll was later even more definitive with his comments about Wilson's status in Seattle. While meeting with local beat writers away from the podium, Carroll said general manager John Schneider has given a standard message when teams may call:
“We're not shopping the quarterback.”
College Basketball
WCC WOMEN'S AWARDS >> After sharing the award last season, BYU's Shaylee Gonzales was named the WCC Player of the Year, headlining the West Coast Conference's women's basketball all-conference end of the year awards. BYU head coach Jeff Judkins was tabbed Coach of the Year, while Ali Bamberger from Saint Mary's won Newcomer of the Year, Gonzaga's Yvonne Ejim won Sixth Woman of the Year and San Diego's Jordyn Edwards won Defensive Player of the Year. WCC MEN'S AWARDS >> Gonzaga and Saint Mary's brought home all the major awards for the West Coast Conference men's basketball all-conference honors. All-American forward Drew Timme was named Player of the Year while freshman standout Chet Holmgren was named Defensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year for the top-ranked Zags. For No. 19 Saint Mary's, Randy Bennett earned Coach of the Year honors, and Tommy Kuhse was tabbed Sixth Man of the Year.