Dmytro Tereshchenko, known by his call sign “Champion,” has become an example of courage, willpower, and resilience for many Ukrainians. The veteran defended Ukraine at the front, where he sustained a serious injury and lost a leg, but he did not break and continued to fight for a full life.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Return to Sports: Victories and Inspiration
After his injury, Dmytro was able to return to sports in a short time: just two and a half months later, he competed in the Oceanman 2024 open water swimming competitions. He was inspired by a close friend who helped him overcome the challenges of rehabilitation. The veteran became a medalist at the prestigious international tournament Air Force in Marine Corps Trials in 2024.
“We met in the hospital. Her name is Yevheniya,” Tereshchenko recounts. “Today she has a team called ‘OneTeamForce.’ One day she invited me to swim in the pool, saying, ‘You might like it.’ There were coaches there who supported and inspired me greatly, showing me what this sport is like, in a word, opening it up for me from a different perspective. These people are still with me today.”
In addition to swimming, Dmytro dreams of returning to boxing, which he practiced before the full-scale war began. He is determined to revive his boxing career and step back into the ring.
First Steps on Fashion Runways
Another direction for Dmytro has been the fashion industry. He started collaborating with renowned designer Andrey Moskin and has already appeared on the runways of fashion shows. Although male modeling in Ukraine is not yet widely popular, Tereshchenko is convinced that this field is important and promising.
The veteran believes that Ukrainian models and veterans have every chance to represent the country with dignity on international runways and prove that Ukrainians can achieve the highest results.
“We cannot ignore it if veterans are involved. I believe we can work at the international level and represent Ukraine. We are no worse than anyone else and can definitely conquer all these runways,” he says.
More about Dmytro Tereshchenko’s life journey, sports achievements, and new ambitions can be found in the video interview on the YouTube channel ‘Kashtan.Interview’.
The story of Dmytro Tereshchenko is proof that even after severe trials, one can find new goals, inspire others, and change perceptions about human capabilities.