“We are proud, we love and we will always remember”: Russian athletes attended the Victory Parade and honored the memory of the dead

The famous Russian athletes could not stay away from the celebration of the 77th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Many of them were invited to the parade in Moscow as spectators, and the Tokyo Olympic champion in artistic gymnastics Nikita Nagorny took part directly in the passage through Red Square.

The athlete led the parade squad of the Yunarmiya military-patriotic movement, in which he has been the head of headquarters since December 2020.

After such a responsible mission, the titled Olympian said that the first thing he wants to do is call his grandparents and share his emotions with them.

“When I told them that I would take part in the Victory Parade and lead the calculation of the Yunarmiya, they burst into tears,” admitted Nagorny.

From the stands, the passage of the gymnast, as well as other participants in the parade, was watched by his comrades in the national team, Olympic champions in artistic gymnastics Angelina Melnikova and Lilia Akhaimova.

The latter noted that she was incredibly proud of her friend.

“Probably, for the first time, an Olympic champion leads the parade squad!

Happy Victory Day!

Thanks for life!"

— wrote the gymnast in social networks.

Also among the invitees were Olympic champions in figure skating Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov.

The athlete admitted that the Victory Parade caused her special emotions that are difficult to express in words.

“Some kind of indescribable feeling to see everything live!”

— Victoria wrote in her Telegram channel.

She also shared a story about three relatives who took part in the Great Patriotic War.

Great-grandfather Sinitsina served on the Karelian front, was a member of the highest officers, was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War II degree.

And great-uncles went missing in different years of World War II.

“Two out of three did not have time to see life, to know the happiness of their family.

Didn't see the world at its best.

But my family will always remember them, ”the figure skater emphasized.

Athletes also took part in the procession of the Immortal Regiment.

“Today is a great day.

Every year there are fewer and fewer people to whom we can personally thank for it.

There are five veterans in my family.

Unfortunately, I only have photographs of some of them.

Friends, let's appreciate those who are close to us and what we have.

Let's say thank you to everyone who accomplished this great feat, ”Katsalapov wrote in his Telegram channel.

Also among the spectators of the solemn event were two-time Olympic champion in Greco-Roman wrestling Roman Vlasov and grandmaster Sergei Karyakin.

The chess player emphasized that Victory Day is a special holiday for him.

“I congratulate all veterans, all Russians.

I am very pleased that I was invited.

I remember how I talked with my grandfather, who told me about the war.

The parade was magnificent, experienced great emotions, ”TASS quotes Karyakin.

Match TV has prepared a touching video for the celebration, in which Russian athletes perform Bulat Okudzhava's song "We need one victory."

The recording took place in the capital's Luzhniki Stadium.

It was attended by Chekhov Bears handball players, boxers Roman Andreev and Svetlana Kulakova, women's mini-football team, members of the national rugby team, MMA fighter Dmitry Bikrev, Olympic champions in handball Ekaterina Ilyina and Daria Dmitrieva, Olympic champion in jumping height Anna Chicherova, as well as members of the Russian national rhythmic gymnastics team.

On Victory Day, athletes and coaches posted on social networks a lot of congratulations and memories of how the Great Patriotic War touched their family.

So, Elena Vesnina spoke about her great-grandfather, who died in 1942.

“My grandfather Tolya was then three years old.

This is a holiday with tears in the eyes.

Low bow to you, veterans,” wrote the tennis player.

Tatyana Volosozhar also remembered her great-grandfather, who fought in an artillery regiment.

In February 1945, in Poland, he was wounded in the leg and left the front.

“We are proud, we love and we will always remember.

Today I wish only one thing: let there be a peaceful sky over the heads of children and adults all over the world.

We can handle the rest, ”the Olympic champion signed the photo.

Khimki midfielder Denis Glushakov addressed the veterans, thanking them for the accomplished feat and wishing them good health and long happy years of life.

“Thank you for everything that you have done for posterity, for the fact that the younger generation can look up to you, be proud of you,” the footballer wrote.

Tatyana Navka honored the memory of her grandfather, who was wounded in March 1942 and participated in the liberation of Sevastopol.

She stressed that May 9 is the day of remembrance of the united victory of the Soviet people, who, regardless of different nationalities, culture or faith, united in the fight against fascism.

“We, the descendants of that heroic people, need to remember, know and pass on from generation to generation the memory of the great feat that our grandparents, great-grandparents and great-grandfathers accomplished during World War II,” the former figure skater wrote.

Maya Khromykh also expressed her gratitude to the participants of the Great Patriotic War: “For the blue sky overhead, for giving up their youth and bravely fighting for our Motherland.”

“I am proud that I was born in a strong and great country.

Eternal memory…” — wrote the young figure skater.