Ukrainian gymnast Liliya Podkopayeva marked her 48th birthday on August 15 with an emotional message dedicated to her late mother Lyudmyla Petrychenko, who passed away in April of this year.
Writing on Instagram alongside a photograph of herself with her mother, Podkopayeva noted that this was her first birthday without her mother. She expressed surprise at how much could change in a single year, recalling that twelve months earlier the day had begun with her mother's voice on the telephone.
The athlete added that she always called her mother first on her birthday, not to receive congratulations, but to express her gratitude.
Atlanta Olympic victory recall
Podkopayeva recalled telephoning her mother 30 years ago from Atlanta, Georgia, to report that she had become an Olympic champion. At the time, internet access was unavailable and the competition broadcast aired late at night in Ukraine.
Her mother told her that she already knew the news despite being unable to watch the broadcast due to overwhelming emotion. Instead, her mother walked outside beneath the windows of their home on Magistralna Street in Donetsk and prayed throughout the night.
Every minute her mother stepped closer to the window to catch the commentator's voice before stepping back, concerned that she might disturb the power of her prayer.
Tribute to maternal support
Podkopayeva explained that although she had no one to telephone this year, she still wanted to thank her mother for the nights spent outside their home and for the prayers that protected her from a distance.
She reflected that while athletic achievements are valuable, true happiness comes not from victory itself, but from having someone with whom to share it. She added that her birthday was the day her mother had given to her.
Podkopayeva previously broke her silence on social media to address followers after her mother passed away earlier this year.
