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War took her home, but not her dreams: Born in Ukraine, she fights for Slovenia

From Delo · () Slovenian

Translated from Slovenian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Seventeen-year-old Ilariia Tsurkan won the European cadet title in the under-63-kilogram category and later took bronze at the world championships.
  • Born in Odesa, she trains with JK Bežigrad in Slovenia and ranks among the world’s leading young judokas.
  • Her sporting achievements follow a personal story shaped by the war and the loss of her home.

Ilariia Tsurkan has already established herself among the world’s best young judokas. This summer, the 17-year-old confirmed her potential at two major under-18 competitions.

At the end of June, she won the European cadet title in the under-63-kilogram category in Las Palmas. She then added a bronze medal at the recent cadet world championships in Guayaquil.

Tsurkan was born in Odesa and trains with JK Bežigrad in Slovenia. She is ranked No. 1 in the World Judo Federation’s under-18 standings.

Her recent visit to Odesa showed the reality behind her sporting success. She had to take shelter several times while visiting her native city. The article presents her achievements alongside a story that extends beyond sport, as she fights for Slovenia after war took her home.

About this summary

Originally published by Delo in Slovenian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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