29 March 2024, Friday, 18:59
Support
the website
Sim Sim,
Charter 97!
Categories

Olympian Andrei Krauchanka: I Believe in Victory

1
Olympian Andrei Krauchanka: I Believe in Victory
Andrei Krauchanka
Photo: Reuters

The Belarusian athlete went on a hunger strike for ten days as a sign of solidarity with political prisoners.

Decathlete, medalist of the 2008 Olympic Games and numerous championships, Andrei Krauchanka, ends his hunger strike.

- I'm finishing this evening. There were some health problems. Of course, there was severe weakness, it darkens in the eyes constantly when you sit down or get up. It happens that the whole body pounds. Yesterday (it was the ninth day of the hunger strike, - ed.), I got up abruptly, lost consciousness, fell in the bathroom, it's good that not on the tiled floor, - the athlete shared with the correspondent of Salidarnasts.

During this period, he lost more than 11 kg.

- The first days I lost weight a lot because the liquid came out. On the morning of the tenth day, I had minus 11.2 kg. Before that, I was already starving, but for a short time - 32 hours, - said Andrei.

However, the main result of the action, he said, is not weight loss.

- I did not plan this to lose weight but to show a sign of solidarity with the prisoners who are on hunger strike. And now I can imagine how these people might feel. Of course, it is several times harder for them than for me; there is no normal water there either.

And morally, so many people supported me. All the time I think how Ihar Losik was on hunger strike for more than 40 days! This is inconceivable! I can’t imagine how girls are starving, Natallia Hershe, she’s generally petite. These people really find themselves on the verge of life and death, - he believes.

He says that he felt depressed at the beginning of the hunger strike, but now it has become much easier morally:

- I don't know how else I can help these people. I can't help but think about them. I will definitely write to Ihar Losik and tell him about my experience.

During the entire period of the hunger strike, none of his former colleagues on the national team, coaches, or sports functionaries was interested in his state of health.

- Everyone is afraid of their shadow, so no one dared even just call. But all my relatives supported me, and many strangers wrote. This is very inspiring. And I am also an athlete, I believe in Victory, that all today's sacrifices are not in vain, - summed up the Olympian.

Write your comment 1

Follow Charter97.org social media accounts