A Ukrainian college athlete is set to compete in this week's NCAA Division II swimming championships in Greensboro. Slava Ohnov, who was born and raised in Ukraine, has two goals: win team titles for his school and raise awareness about the Russian attack on his home country.
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It's been less than two weeks since the Wingate University swimmer was woken up by a frantic text from 5,000 miles away: Russian soldiers were invading his home country of Ukraine. He says with his family still back home and childhood friends who have joined the defense forces there, it's a very serious situation.
Ohnov says competing in this championship gives him a chance to do his part.
"I have a Ukrainian flag and I'm planning to be behind the block every single time with the Ukrainian flag on my back," he says. "And I don't know. I'm just going to do my best because I'm trying to think that this is my fight that I can do right now. And if I do my best, I will be glad."
The NCAA Division II men's and women's swimming and diving championships begin in Greensboro on Wednesday. Ohnov will compete in the individual 100m freestyle and plans to swim in all of Wingate's relay events as well.