Just one step away from a place on the world championship podium, Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy student Vadym Maznichenko now has one big dream – the 2028 Paralympic Games.

After sustaining a severe combat injury and undergoing an amputation, he has not only returned to an active life but has also become one of the world’s strongest military archers.

In an interview with Pro Vse, he explains why he no longer sees sport merely as rehabilitation, why he has moved beyond competing exclusively in veterans’ events, and why his main goal today is to outperform able-bodied athletes.

About a month ago, Vadym Maznichenko represented Ukraine at the 5^th World Military Archery Championship held in Warendorf, Germany. In the qualification round, the Cherkasy athlete scored 567 points, finishing fourth, and securing a place among the world’s top four archers.

Despite this achievement, Vadym was not fully satisfied with his performance.

“I could have achieved a better result. The competition was held in extremely hot and humid conditions. During one of the rounds, I accidentally shot an arrow into a neighbouring target, which resulted in a penalty. That unfortunate mistake is what left me in fourth place. But things like that happen even to world-class athletes. It’s part of the experience that ultimately makes you stronger,” he says.

The World Championship brought together more than 80 competitors from 17 countries. This year, the organisers introduced a separate veterans’ category for the first time.

“It was great to see the athletes I had first met at the 2023 Invictus Games in Düsseldorf. Meeting them again motivates me to keep moving forward.”

“I’ve outgrown veterans’ sport”

Although Vadym has enjoyed considerable success in veterans’ competitions, he is now focusing increasingly on professional sport.

“This year, I’ve almost completely stepped away from veterans’ competitions. You could say I’ve outgrown them. I often finish in first place, and I feel that other veterans should also have the opportunity to win. For many of them, these tournaments are their first step into sport, and that is incredibly important.”

Instead, he is concentrating primarily on the Ukrainian Cup and the Ukrainian Championships, where athletes earn ranking points and compete for places on the national team.

“Every official competition matters to me now because each one opens the door to international events. This year, I started competing seriously at the 70-metre distance for the first time. It’s a completely different level. Mastering that technique takes years, but it’s essential if you want to earn a place on Ukraine’s national team.”

“Before the war, I wasn’t athletic at all”

Today, Vadym Maznichenko is recognised as one of Ukraine’s strongest archers among veterans and military personnel. Yet just ten years ago, he never imagined that sport would become the defining part of his life.

Before the war, he worked in the steel construction industry, building warehouses for businesses, and devoted himself entirely to his work and family.

“To be honest, before the war I wasn’t athletic at all. I practised karate for a short time at school, but that was it. There were no athletes in my family either, so I didn’t really have role models in sport. My life revolved entirely around work.”

Everything changed after the outbreak of the war. In 2014, Vadym sustained a severe injury that resulted in an amputation. The following year, he travelled to the United States for rehabilitation, and in 2016, he received his first running prosthesis. That was when sport entered his life.

“At first, I completed the 10-kilometre race at the US Marine Corps Marathon. Then came the first Ukrainian Invictus Games, where I tried my hand at several disciplines, including archery, track and field, and shot put. That was when I realised I wanted to keep developing as an athlete.”

His first successes soon followed. At the Invictus Games, Vadym won team gold in archery and an individual bronze medal.

“After those Games, I set myself a new goal – to qualify for Ukraine’s national team. That was the moment when I finally realised I wanted to dedicate my life to archery.”

Two years of intensive training later, he earned the title of Master of Sport of Ukraine. Now he is pursuing an even more ambitious goal.

“My next dream is to compete at the 2028 Paralympic Games. Right now, I am working on improving my technique so I can make the national team, secure a Paralympic qualification spot, and represent Ukraine at the Paralympics.”

“Sport is no longer rehabilitation for me”

While many veterans turn to sport as a way to recover physically and psychologically, Vadym believes he has already moved beyond that stage. Today, he sees sport primarily as an opportunity for self-realisation.

“Many people say that sport is a form of rehabilitation. For me, it no longer is. Rehabilitation is about taking your mind off difficult memories, making new friends, and spending time with your fellow veterans. That’s incredibly important, but I’ve already gone through that stage.”

Today, what motivates him most is achieving sporting success.

“I want to win. I want to compete with the strongest athletes. That’s precisely why I left veterans’ competitions behind and focused on professional sport. I enjoy pushing myself further, setting new goals, and achieving them.”

He admits that he now experiences victory very differently than he once did.

“To be honest, I haven’t really felt satisfaction from winning for quite some time. That may sound strange, but I want to compete against the very best in the world and experience genuine competition. I believe that’s when victory will truly have a different value.”

He sums up his personal philosophy in just a few words:

“My goal is to always be better – first and foremost, for myself. I want to earn the title of Master of Sport of Ukraine, International Class, and win the Ukrainian Championship.”

Source: Pro Vse