Ukrainian paddlers to push hard at worlds in Dartmouth, as reminder 'sport must live' despite war

Ukrainian paddlers at the world championships are grateful for the tranquillity of the Dartmouth lakes — having temporarily left behind sirens and missiles flying overhead.

But for Pavlo Altukhov, a 26-year-old canoe racer and Olympian, the contrast of peacefulness in Canada and violence at home motivates him to push for podium performances.

"It's better to be in a safe place, but it's hard to realize that your own country is at war," he said in an interview Saturday, as athletes launched their boats for practice sessions on Lake Banook.

The ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships begin Wednesday in Dartmouth, N.S., with up to 40,000 spectators anticipated to attend the five days of kayak and canoe competitions.

"I need to do what I do best, for my country.... I need to paddle to raise up my country's flag in other countries of the world," said Altukhov.

"It's not a normal war. It's a war with terrorism. ... So, I ask us all the world to remember Ukraine. There's peace in your country, but there's no peace in my country."

Earlier this year, as Altukhov was driving his paddle into the waters of the Pivdennyi Buh river, which bisects the small city of Khmelnytskyi in western Ukraine, his head turned upwards as a massive sound cracked through the air.

Above, a Russian missile streaked by, headed to a destination he could only speculate upon.

"We continued paddling on the water. ... It took just seconds, and it went by," he said.

Day to day, the athlete is conscious of dozens of friends now on various war fronts, keeping in touch with them by Instagram. Even his father, 56, is now enrolled in the military.

Altukhov said at night sirens wail, interrupting the sleep he and other elite athletes require in order to