{"id":32757,"date":"2026-09-04T11:24:05","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T18:24:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/?p=32757"},"modified":"2026-09-04T11:26:49","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T18:26:49","slug":"oleksandr-harkavenko-ukrainskyj-chempion-iz-borotby-u-ssha","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/en\/2026\/09\/04\/oleksandr-harkavenko-ukrainskyj-chempion-iz-borotby-u-ssha\/","title":{"rendered":"Oleksandr Harkavenko: Ukrainian Wrestling Champion in the United States"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"32757\" class=\"elementor elementor-32757\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-172cc621 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"172cc621\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e8011fd elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6e8011fd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1248\" src=\"https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Liakh-osnovne.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-32758\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Liakh-osnovne.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Liakh-osnovne-300x183.jpg 300w, https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Liakh-osnovne-1024x624.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Liakh-osnovne-768x468.jpg 768w, https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Liakh-osnovne-1536x936.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Liakh-osnovne-18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-attachment-id=\"32758\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/2026\/09\/04\/oleksandr-harkavenko-ukrainskyj-chempion-iz-borotby-u-ssha\/liakh-osnovne\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Liakh-osnovne.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2048,1248\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"\u041b\u044f\u0445 \u043e\u0441\u043d\u043e\u0432\u043d\u0435\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Liakh-osnovne-1024x624.jpg\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d5b5b56 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1d5b5b56\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oleksandr Harkavenko was an exceptionally prominent and powerful figure. Yet in the history of Ukrainian sports and the diaspora, there are surprisingly few references to him. They certainly exist, but they are far too limited compared with the scale of his life, career, and achievements. That is why we should pay greater attention to authentic Ukrainian history and restore distinguished historical figures and events to the consciousness of the Ukrainian people. There have been many manipulations, falsifications, and distortions by our enemies, as well as by countries that share borders with Ukraine. This is also relevant in Harkavenko\u2019s case, because he was Ukrainian. Experts have established this, and he himself stated it. At the same time, Russian and Polish propaganda have tried to manipulate sources and information and insidiously claim that he was \u201cone of theirs.\u201d That is why it is important for us to refute these unfounded assertions and once again reaffirm the long history of Ukrainian sport.<\/span><\/p><h3><b>A Brief Biography<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, what do we know about Oleksandr Harkavenko\u2019s life? He was born in 1892 in the village of Morozivka, now in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast \u2014 although one would like to see it already renamed either Dnipro or Sicheslav Oblast. His father came from a distinguished Cossack lineage. His mother, according to sources, supposedly had Polish roots. And it is precisely this fact that Polish manipulators primarily use for their propaganda, although there are other reasons as well.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oleksandr possessed remarkable strength, an imposing physique, and a passion for victory in wrestling. He repeatedly won international tournaments and world championships \u2014 in Hamburg in 1931 and Berlin in 1933. Even when competing against the legendary Ivan Piddubnyi, after three hours of wrestling he managed to end the bout in a draw. Not everyone could \u201cafford\u201d such a result.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the early 1920s, Harkavenko moved to Poland. From that point on, newspapers wrote that he represented Poland, and he died in Warsaw in 1944. According to Polish historians, these facts provide grounds for considering him Polish. Yet none of this changes the fact that Oleksandr Harkavenko was Ukrainian. In the 1920s and 1930s, part of Ukraine was under Polish rule. As a result, many Ukrainians, including athletes, were forced to represent that country.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-33c2e62 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"33c2e62\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"443\" height=\"813\" src=\"https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Oleksandr-Harkavenko-u-SShA.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-32760\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Oleksandr-Harkavenko-u-SShA.png 443w, https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Oleksandr-Harkavenko-u-SShA-163x300.png 163w, https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Oleksandr-Harkavenko-u-SShA-7x12.png 7w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 443px) 100vw, 443px\" data-attachment-id=\"32760\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/2026\/09\/04\/oleksandr-harkavenko-ukrainskyj-chempion-iz-borotby-u-ssha\/oleksandr-harkavenko-u-ssha\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Oleksandr-Harkavenko-u-SShA.png\" data-orig-size=\"443,813\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-title=\"\u041e\u043b\u0435\u043a\u0441\u0430\u043d\u0434\u0440 \u0413\u0430\u0440\u043a\u0430\u0432\u0435\u043d\u043a\u043e \u0443 \u0421\u0428\u0410\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Oleksandr-Harkavenko-u-SShA.png\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0cd38fc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0cd38fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><b>Performances in the United States<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is one period in Oleksandr Harkavenko\u2019s athletic career that is perhaps the least researched, explored, and analyzed: his performances in the United States. What does the general public know from Wikipedia? I quote: \u201cIn 1923, he signed a five-year contract and lived in the United States, where he mastered American freestyle wrestling. During this period, he won more than 200 bouts against champions from many countries around the world and suffered only one defeat, in a match against E. Lewis.\u201d And that is essentially all that is commonly known about Harkavenko\u2019s unique appearances in the United States. In my opinion, this is far too little. First, he signed a long-term contract. Second, he competed more than two hundred times. Third, he lost only once. So we should learn much more about his time in the United States.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the earliest references to Harkavenko\u2019s extraordinary performance in the United States appeared in the newspaper Svoboda. Here is what it wrote about this truly remarkable appearance by the Ukrainian strongman: \u201cThe Ukrainian community of Philadelphia, Pa., had the opportunity to witness an example of truly superhuman strength. Oleksander Harkavenko, a Ukrainian from Katerynoslav who had recently arrived in America, performed at the hall of the Club of American Citizens of Ukrainian Descent.\u201d The newspaper also provided a brief description of our hero: \u201cHarkavenko himself is 30 years old. He is a man of imposing stature with extraordinarily developed muscles. At the same time, he is a typical Ukrainian, full of humor, which he constantly displays throughout his performance.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The program of the Ukrainian athlete\u2019s performance is especially interesting. It consisted not only of wrestling but also of demonstrations of superhuman abilities and strength. The program included six acts. I reproduce their descriptions here, preserving the colorful atmosphere and details: \u201cFor the first one, he chose to bend an iron bar four inches wide and half an inch thick around his shoulder. The strongman had quite a difficult task because the bar was more steel than iron and constantly unwound like a spring. Yet it could not withstand the strongman\u2019s iron muscles. He wrapped it three times around his shoulder as though it were a silk ribbon.\u201d This was the first act of Harkavenko\u2019s performance. Apparently, he was only \u201cwarming up\u201d the audience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Then things became even more interesting: \u201cThe second act was truly extraordinary. The strongman took into his teeth a round iron rod one and a half inches in diameter. Seven people, personally selected by him from among the spectators, grabbed each end of the rod, and with the weight of their bodies bent the rod held in the strongman\u2019s teeth as if it were a piece of soft Italian macaroni.\u201d The performance astonished the audience. Harkavenko\u2019s teeth actually left marks on the iron. Can you imagine such a feat \u2014 or such Ukrainian strength? Oleksandr Harkavenko then continued to amaze the spectators: \u201cAfterward, he \u2018made a bridge,\u2019 that is, stood on his hands and feet with his chest facing upward. A huge stone block, which six people could barely lift, was placed on his chest. A man with a heavy blacksmith\u2019s hammer stood on each side of the stone, and they began striking it with all their strength. After several blows, the men became so exhausted that they could no longer lift the hammers. But Harkavenko, who held the stone and endured all the blows upon it, cheerfully joked and commented the entire time, encouraging them to keep going.\u201d A true Ukrainian Cossack: power, strength, endurance, and humor. And that was only half the program. His fourth act was the following: \u201cThe fourth part of his performance consisted of bending an iron bar six inches wide and four inches thick. He placed this bar across both shoulders, and several dozen people grabbed it from either end and, using all their strength, bent it.\u201d These performances and Harkavenko\u2019s demonstrations of strength must truly have made a tremendous impression on those present. Few strongmen could boast of such accomplishments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The fifth act was intended to impress the audience even more: \u201cAfter that, he again \u2018made a bridge,\u2019 and a piano was placed on his chest; a man sat at the piano and performed a lengthy musical piece. Throughout the performance, Harkavenko remained standing on his hands and feet like a stone statue, without moving, so as not to interfere with the musician\u2019s playing.\u201d This act was accompanied by an artistic performance, which was very popular at the time. And to conclude his program, Oleksandr Harkavenko finally wrestled a famous Polish strongman: \u201cThe final and most amusing part of the performance was Harkavenko\u2019s contest with the Polish strongman Zakrzewski, who had been performing publicly as a strongman in America for 19 years. In less than three minutes, Harkavenko threw the Pole to the ground and then began teasing him, patting him on the head like a tiny child, which caused great amusement among those present but even greater fury in the defeated man.\u201d No matter how hard the Polish wrestler tried to resist the Ukrainian, he was completely unsuccessful.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The performance was an extraordinary success and attracted widespread attention across America. It is worth noting that before coming to the United States, Oleksandr Harkavenko signed a contract with Jack Pfefer, a very famous manager at the time who had also managed the legendary Ivan Piddubnyi. Together, they planned to impress the American public and experts and achieve as many victories as possible. At the same time, local press noted that Harkavenko faced numerous challenges in his U.S. career. The main obstacle was that he was unfamiliar with the wrestling styles practiced in the United States. The Ukrainian community in Philadelphia therefore became involved in resolving the issue. Harkavenko was enrolled in an appropriate American wrestling school in order to gain knowledge and practical experience.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0817a6a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0817a6a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"371\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Anons-borotby-Harkavenka-u-SShA.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-32761\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Anons-borotby-Harkavenka-u-SShA.png 371w, https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Anons-borotby-Harkavenka-u-SShA-261x300.png 261w, https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Anons-borotby-Harkavenka-u-SShA-10x12.png 10w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 371px) 100vw, 371px\" data-attachment-id=\"32761\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/2026\/09\/04\/oleksandr-harkavenko-ukrainskyj-chempion-iz-borotby-u-ssha\/anons-borotby-harkavenka-u-ssha\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Anons-borotby-Harkavenka-u-SShA.png\" data-orig-size=\"371,427\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-title=\"\u0410\u043d\u043e\u043d\u0441 \u0431\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0442\u044c\u0431\u0438 \u0413\u0430\u0440\u043a\u0430\u0432\u0435\u043d\u043a\u0430 \u0443 \u0421\u0428\u0410\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Anons-borotby-Harkavenka-u-SShA.png\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ab9d46c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ab9d46c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ukrainians in their homeland closely followed Oleksandr Harkavenko\u2019s performances in the United States. Unfortunately, at that time Ukraine was subjugated by the USSR, Poland, Romania, and Czechoslovakia. Nevertheless, Ukrainians never missed an opportunity to take pride in their distinguished compatriots. The Lviv newspaper Dilo described Harkavenko\u2019s performance in Philadelphia in considerable detail.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Naturally, after such success in Philadelphia, the media focused closely on the Ukrainian wrestler. They wrote about him down to the smallest details. For example: \u201cOleksander Harkavenko, from Greater Ukraine, the son of a cavalry colonel. Harkavenko has only recently arrived from Europe. He is the European heavyweight champion. He weighs 270 pounds and previously weighed 350. Harkavenko\u2019s chest is covered with medals from all the European countries where he wrestled and always emerged victorious. In Greco-Roman wrestling, he has no equal. He is powerfully built and possesses extraordinary strength. He can carry 30 people on his body. An automobile can drive across his chest without harmful consequences.\u201d This was a detailed description of the Ukrainian strongman. Naturally, after such a presentation, more and more people wanted to see his performances, while his opponents probably were not especially eager to face him.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After Philadelphia, Oleksandr Harkavenko demonstrated his extraordinary talents in Chicago. One account states: \u201cOn January 12, Harkavenko made his first appearance in Chicago. He agreed to defeat three strongmen in a single evening and did so very easily. He defeated the Bulgarian and American wrestlers in five minutes and the Italian in ten minutes.\u201d This performance was even more impressive and spectacular than the previous ones. It should be noted that the referee for the match was the Ukrainian wrestler Hakh. Ukrainian strongmen amazed local audiences and experts so greatly that over the years they were invited to the United States more and more often. It is worth noting that during the 1920s and 1930s, many Ukrainian wrestlers came to the United States: Piddubnyi, Harkavenko, Hakh, Kyrylenko, Bihun, Zalizniak, Zaryniv, and other distinguished athletes. Ukrainians have always followed Taras Shevchenko\u2019s call: \u201cFight \u2014 and you will prevail! God is helping you!\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The press wrote the following about Harkavenko\u2019s successes in Chicago: \u201cIt was in Chicago that he had his first wrestling matches and won his first American victories. In Chicago, he defeated Lithuanian champion Frank Norkus, the \u2018Irish Bull\u2019 Jack Roberts, the \u2018Texas Tiger\u2019 Big Bull Bet, the \u2018Black Mask\u2019 Victor Soldat; Turkish champion Bob Monakov, the great Swedish wrestler John Friberg, Czech champion Pavel Marteson, the \u2018Canadian Giant\u2019 Bob Nelson, the \u2018Red Mask\u2019 Hans Foster, student Ted Paulsen, the \u2018California Giant\u2019 Tom Marshall, Irish champion Pap McGee, and Polish wrestler Adam Burski of Boston. His latest victory was over the well-known Polish athlete Wladek Zbyszko.\u201d Indeed, this was an extraordinary series of victories over formidable opponents.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oleksandr Harkavenko\u2019s achievements attracted an ever-growing audience. At the same time, as his popularity increased, old problems once again emerged \u201cin the arena.\u201d Above all, this concerned his national identity. Fraudsters and falsifiers wanted to \u201cattach themselves\u201d to such a successful Ukrainian athlete. This is how the Ukrainian press in the United States described it: \u201cNaturally, other nations want to claim such a famous athlete as their own. It is no surprise that Russian newspapers in America write about him as a great Russian athlete. But Polish newspapers have also already described him as their \u2018countryman.\u2019 Clearly, to a man whose own nation has no feats of strength to boast of, it may seem that he too shares in such achievements when a great strongman emerges from his nation. It has even happened that political parties tried to monopolize strongmen, apparently imagining that their supporters, upon learning of the athlete\u2019s political sympathies, would become convinced that the party to which the athlete belonged was just as strong as he was. Such a position has no basis.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is how it always happens: a nation that has nothing of its own attempts to appropriate what belongs to others. This is an example of how Russians or Poles have distorted the true history of Ukrainian sport for decades. To resist them, every Ukrainian throughout the world must remember: when you know your history, you achieve victory!<\/span><\/p><p><b>Author: Oleksii Lyakh-Porodko<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-560ac20b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"560ac20b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44a84387 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"44a84387\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-145b0f09 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"145b0f09\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"824\" height=\"532\" src=\"https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/liakh.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-25165\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/liakh.jpg 824w, https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/liakh-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/liakh-768x496.jpg 768w, https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/liakh-18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 824px) 100vw, 824px\" data-attachment-id=\"25165\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/?attachment_id=25165\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/liakh.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"824,532\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"\u043b\u044f\u0445\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/liakh.jpg\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7bb06630 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7bb06630\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b23b04a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7b23b04a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 data-pm-slice=\"0 0 []\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/en\/category\/authors\/oleksii-lyakh-porodko\/\">Oleksiy Lyakh-Porodko<\/a> \u2013 <\/strong>is a sports journalist, television and radio expert on the history of sport and the Olympic movement, scholar, blogger, and writer based in Lviv, Ukraine. He holds a PhD in Physical Education and Sport, is an associate professor at the National University of Physical Education and Sport of Ukraine, and a member of the \u201cUkrainians Abroad\u201d Commission of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine.<\/h3><h3>He focuses on researching the history of Ukrainian sport in the diaspora and the role of Ukrainians in the global sports and Olympic movement. He is the author of more than 185 interviews with members of the Ukrainian community from 22 countries \u2014 ranging from Olympic champions and scholars to community leaders, coaches, and participants in landmark historical events \u2014 united by Ukrainian roots, ties to the diaspora, and dedication to the ideals of sport, physical culture, and the Olympic movement.<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-318f6893 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"318f6893\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76487665 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"76487665\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37700189 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"37700189\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">read us in<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-781a5d93 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"781a5d93\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/vilni.media?mibextid=ZbWKwL\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fab-facebook\" viewbox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.78 90.69 226.38 209.25 245V327.69h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.31 482.38 504 379.78 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Facebook<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b485cac elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"6b485cac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/vilni.media.usa\/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fab-instagram\" viewbox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M224.1 141c-63.6 0-114.9 51.3-114.9 114.9s51.3 114.9 114.9 114.9S339 319.5 339 255.9 287.7 141 224.1 141zm0 189.6c-41.1 0-74.7-33.5-74.7-74.7s33.5-74.7 74.7-74.7 74.7 33.5 74.7 74.7-33.6 74.7-74.7 74.7zm146.4-194.3c0 14.9-12 26.8-26.8 26.8-14.9 0-26.8-12-26.8-26.8s12-26.8 26.8-26.8 26.8 12 26.8 26.8zm76.1 27.2c-1.7-35.9-9.9-67.7-36.2-93.9-26.2-26.2-58-34.4-93.9-36.2-37-2.1-147.9-2.1-184.9 0-35.8 1.7-67.6 9.9-93.9 36.1s-34.4 58-36.2 93.9c-2.1 37-2.1 147.9 0 184.9 1.7 35.9 9.9 67.7 36.2 93.9s58 34.4 93.9 36.2c37 2.1 147.9 2.1 184.9 0 35.9-1.7 67.7-9.9 93.9-36.2 26.2-26.2 34.4-58 36.2-93.9 2.1-37 2.1-147.8 0-184.8zM398.8 388c-7.8 19.6-22.9 34.7-42.6 42.6-29.5 11.7-99.5 9-132.1 9s-102.7 2.6-132.1-9c-19.6-7.8-34.7-22.9-42.6-42.6-11.7-29.5-9-99.5-9-132.1s-2.6-102.7 9-132.1c7.8-19.6 22.9-34.7 42.6-42.6 29.5-11.7 99.5-9 132.1-9s102.7-2.6 132.1 9c19.6 7.8 34.7 22.9 42.6 42.6 11.7 29.5 9 99.5 9 132.1s2.7 102.7-9 132.1z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Instagram<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Oleksandr Harkavenko was an exceptionally prominent and powerful figure. Yet in the history of Ukrainian sports and the diaspora, there are surprisingly few references to him...<\/p>","protected":false},"author":253017329,"featured_media":32758,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\n\n{excerpt}\n\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1503,1561],"tags":[1562],"class_list":["post-32757","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive","category-oleksii-lyakh-porodko","tag-oleksii-lyakh-porodko"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - 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