Anastasija Merkushyna was part of the Ukrainian team that came seventh in the women's relay at the Olympics.

Individually, she finished 24th in the sprint and 25th in the pursuit start.

But after the Olympics, when Russia attacked Ukraine, her focus suddenly shifted.

- I thought that I will never be able to engage in biathlon again and I felt the need to always have my rifle by the bed because who knows if they (the Russians, editor's note) will come.

Now it feels strange that you thought that.

I hardly remember those days, you walked around as if in a fog.

"We ran a lot"

Merkusjyna describes how she initially got stuck on the phone and computer in an attempt to get in touch with friends, family and teammates to find out if everyone was safe and who needed help.

It was her father Oleg who finally spoke up. 

- He told me that I needed to stop following the news feed all the time.

“You have to do something else, not for the sake of training, but you have to get out.

Run, jog or take a walk!”, she says. 

- We set off.

It cleared the head and then the days went by.

The amount of training increased and eventually we were back on a normal schedule.

We couldn't do specific biathlon training, but we ran a lot.

Several men's rowers have been summoned

In July, both the women's and men's national teams received the go-ahead from the authorities to leave the country and begin preparations for the upcoming season.

Several of the biathletes in the men's team, including Dmytro Pidruchnyj, have been called up to help in various ways in the defense of the country.

They can be recalled to Ukraine at any time.

The International Biathlon Union, IBU, together with eight biathlon nations, including Sweden, has ensured that the Ukrainian biathletes can live and train safely.

- We are so grateful for all the help we get.

Suddenly you don't feel alone.

We get help with travel and in several places we get to live and train for free.

It has brought me to tears of happiness to know we are not alone.

Merkusjyna is currently in Idre and will compete in Sunday's race, which will be broadcast in Vinterstudion.

REPORT: See the entire meeting with Merkusjyna: "Walked around as if in a fog"

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See the entire meeting with Anastasija Merkusjyna: "Walked around as if in a fog"