Yesterday, a former Miss Ukraine who was wearing her country’s flag crossed the finish line of the London Marathon.
Kostiantyn Bidnenko, her fiancé, and 29-year-old Viktoriya Kiose completed the grueling 26.2 kilometers in under four hours.
The pair raced to raise money for United24, a Ukrainian nonprofit. They left their own country in February of last year and have lived here since May.
Mr. Bidnenko, whose spouse was Miss Ukraine 2017, added, “When you hear people support you and shout the name of your nation, you feel a duty not just for yourself, but for your country and your people too.”
To begin the ceremony, football players Jill Scott, Ellen White, and Leah Williamson sounded the klaxon.
Olympian James Cracknell, 50, BBC journalist Sophie Raworth, 54, DJ Chris Evans, 56, and McFly’s Harry Judd, 36, were among the 42,000 participants.
The marathon will return to its regular time in April of the next year after being shifted to October because to Covid.
Amos Kipruto completed the men’s race in two hours, four minutes, and 39 seconds.
Yalemzerf Yehualaw finished first in the women’s race in two hours, 17 minutes, and 26 seconds.