Yana Klochkova, Ukraine's most decorated Olympic champion, lives in occupied Crimea

On August 7, four-time Olympic swimming champion Yana Klochkova celebrates her 44th birthday. After the outbreak of full-scale war, she moved to the temporarily occupied Crimea and has not publicly commented on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

Klochkova remains the most successful Olympic athlete in the history of independent Ukraine. At the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Games, she won four gold and one silver medal, and set 50 Ukrainian records during her athletic career.

According to journalist Slava Dyomin, Klochkova currently lives in occupied Crimea with her parents and son.

“It seems as though Klochkova is living in a different reality. Let me remind you that in 2006, Yana was close to fugitive President Viktor Yanukovych and was even elected to the Kharkiv City Council as a member of the Party of Regions,” Dyomin noted.

The media also point out that in 2006, Klochkova became a member of the Kharkiv City Council representing the Party of Regions and publicly supported Viktor Yanukovych, notably participating in his 2004 presidential campaign.

Since 2022, the athlete has made no public statements regarding the war, and her Instagram page is private. At the same time, her profile lists her location as Russia.

Prior to this, Elina Svitolina advanced to the third round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto. In a tough match, the Ukrainian defeated Spain’s Jessica Buzas Manero 6-7, 7-6, 6-4. The match lasted nearly three hours, and Svitolina clinched the victory after three tense sets.

Earlier, Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina advanced to the quarterfinals of the WTA 500 tournament in Washington. In the round of 16, she defeated Polina Kudermetova, who previously represented Russia and now plays for Uzbekistan. Following this victory, the Ukrainian continues her quest for the title on American courts.