In May 2022, a russian missile struck the resort settlement of Zatoka in Odesa region. A young girl, Sasha Paskal, was trapped beneath the rubble of a holiday house.  She suffered multiple fractures, a severe head injury, and spent 15 days in a medically induced coma. To save the child’s life, doctors had to amputate her left leg. 

Sasha’s mother, Mariia, recalls that the only thing her daughter was concerned about when she regained consciousness was the question: “How will I do gymnastics now?”.  Sport had been Sasha’s life since the age of four. 

Thanks to prosthetic treatment and a series of lengthy operations on her injured arm in Austria, Sasha learned to walk again. Despite the daily pain, chafing caused by the prosthesis, and exhausting rehabilitation, she returned to competitive sport. 

Ten-year-old Oleksandra Paskal trains every day alongside other gymnasts, without any concessions or special treatment. She is already winning international tournaments, even though she now relies on just one healthy leg for support. 

Sasha supports FC Shakhtar, attended the Olympic Games in Paris, dances the waltz with other children affected by the war, and dreams of seeing the world – Japan in particular. 

“I train on equal terms with the other girls. No one cuts me any slack,” says Sasha.

Her main goal is to represent Ukraine at the Paralympic Games. 

At present, rhythmic gymnastics is not included in the Paralympic programme, but the young athlete has not given up on her dream of one day representing Ukraine on the world’s greatest sporting stage.

Oleksandra and Mariia believe it is important to share their story so that the world can see what Ukrainian children are being forced to endure.