OLEKSANDR USYK put his Olympic gold medal in his father’s coffin when he passed away.
The heavyweight champion won gold at the London 2012 Olympics as his dad battled illness.
X @boxingontntOleksandr Usyk put his Olympic gold medal in his father’s coffin[/caption]
Getty Images – GettyUsyk won gold at the London 2012 Olympics[/caption]
Usyk was able to tell his father he was Olympic champion but did not see him before he passed away.
The Ukrainian recalled: “My father was a tough man. He never told me sentimental words but, when I won the Olympics, he was already very sick.
“I called him on the phone that evening and he told me he loved me. He said, ‘Now I’m ready to take death’. I told him, ‘This is only the beginning for us, there are professional belts,’ but a few days later my mum called at 2.30am and said, ‘That’s it, Dad’s gone’.
“I flew to Chernihiv, where they lived, and, when I entered the room, he was lying in a wooden coffin.
“I took the medal and put it in his hand and said, ‘Here you go’. I know he’s up there in the skies watching me and he’s proud. I think about him every day, and I never miss a chance to tell my children that I love them.”
Usyk has spoken about his father many times and has stated he was his biggest source of motivation.
The 37-year-old often gets emotional when speaking about his dad and credits him for his success.
Usyk said previously: “God rest his soul. He was the one who always motivated and forced me to train and study.
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“Everything I have now is down to him. He put so much into me, taught me about priorities in life, which are family, sport and education.
“He was a military man, by the way. My mum hated it when he taught me how to fight with a knife. She’d shout ‘Sasha, he’ll grow up to be a criminal, what are you doing?’
“He’d be like ‘Get away, if he knows how to do it, he will never use it on others but when he needs to protect someone, that’s when he’ll use it.’”