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Episode details

World Service,49 mins

Paralympic Overachievers? The story of Ukraine

Sportsworld

Available for over a year

Mani Djazmi travels to Ukraine to find out why Rio 2016 was not just a one Olympics wonder. Ukraine has been in the top 6 of the medals table since 2004, yet only started sending a team in 1996. He assesses how the nation has turned into a Paralympic superpower, despite an economic crisis and the loss of not only their training centre in war-torn Crimea, but their homes. Plus how well are the disabled supported in Ukraine? How much has the Chernobyl disaster impacted on perceptions of disabled athletes in Ukraine? Amongst the guests you'll hear from some of the stars of that Rio team including the remarkable story of bronze medallist from Rio, Anton Kol, who like so many disabled children in Ukraine, was given up by his parents at birth and sent to an orphanage which he described as "being treated like cattle". Plus Ukraine born USA Paralympian Oksana Masters on how she sees the birth defects she suffered as a result of the Chernobyl disaster 30 years ago as a blessing. Photo credit: Getty images

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