Young Ukrainian gymnast performs in Times Square

Ten-year-old Ukrainian rhythmic gymnast Oleksandra Paskal, who survived a Russian attack that claimed her leg, performed in Times Square in the heart of New York City to remind the world about the plight of Ukrainian children living through war.

Before her performance, Oleksandra and her mother, Mariia, visited the UN Headquarters, where they spoke about recovery after traumatic injury and the importance of peace for children, Ukrinform reports, citing the UN press service, CE Report quotes Ukrinform.

Oleksandra began practicing rhythmic gymnastics at an early age. She was seriously injured in a Russian missile strike in 2022 after becoming trapped beneath the rubble of a destroyed building. A concrete slab crushed the bones in her leg, and after spending 15 days in a medically induced coma, doctors were forced to amputate the limb.

After several months of rehabilitation, Oleksandra returned to the sport. Using a modern prosthetic leg, she performs dance and acrobatic routines and has spent the past four years competing alongside children without disabilities. The young gymnast has won medals at several competitions.

Her mother, Mariia, said that every performance is an opportunity to keep international attention focused on Ukraine's children.

“The main message is that people should not forget that the war is still going on in our country,” she said.

Mariia stressed that what Ukrainian children need most is peace.

She also believes that sport played a crucial role in her daughter's recovery.

"I think that without sport, everything would have been much worse. She would have withdrawn into herself and been ashamed of her prosthetic leg. But when she competes, she isn't embarrassed. She becomes much more confident," the gymnast's mother said.

Oleksandra trains for three to four hours a day, five days a week. She dreams of one day representing Ukraine at the Paralympic Games if rhythmic gymnastics is included in the program.

As previously reported, Oleksandra Paskal, a young gymnast from Chornomorsk who lost her leg in a Russian attack, won a gold medal at the Carla's Rhythmic Cup, held in the Romanian city of Brașov from June 5 to 7.

Photo: Instagram