Ukrainian Oleksandr Khizhnyak won the gold medal at the 2024 Olympics in the 80 kg weight category.
This was reported by the publication “Obshchestvennoye Sport”.
It is noted that on the way to the final, Khizhnyak won three victories, in particular, in the last fight he defeated the current Olympic champion, Cuban Arlen Lopez, having lost the first round of the fight.
In the final, Khiznyak faced the 2024 world champion, Kazakhstani Nurbek Oralbay. After two rounds of the fight, the score on points from the judges was equal, everything was decided by the third round, in which the judges unanimously gave preference to the Ukrainian boxer.
For Khiznyak, this was the second Olympic final of his career. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he was close to the gold medal, but, leading on points before the third round, he lost the final match by a dubious knockout.
In a comment to journalists after receiving the gold medal, Khizhnyak thanked everyone involved for helping him achieve his goal. He noted that this medal was his main goal after receiving silver at the Tokyo Olympics.
I thank God that I am an Olympic champion. I am infinitely grateful to our military for protecting peace and quiet in my country at the cost of their own lives. I would like to thank my father for helping me achieve this gold medal. This is our award together. I am grateful to my wife, who believed in me and never doubted for a second that we would succeed. Thanks to my family, my city, Ukrainians and the whole world for supporting me, – emphasized Khizhnyak.
According to him, winning the Olympics opens up new opportunities in his career.
I can’t say whether it’s professional boxing or whether I’ll continue my amateur career. It takes time. I’ll go back home, spend time with my family, and then I’ll decide how I’d like to continue my life, Khizhnyak noted.
Source: “Public Sport”
Source: Racurs
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