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War took away my home, my training base, and the life I once knew — but not my Olympic dream.
My name is Alina. I am 18 years old, from Odesa, Ukraine, and I am working toward one goal: to represent Ukraine at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
When Russia invaded Ukraine, everything changed. My hometown was attacked, the yacht club where I trained was destroyed, and my family had to flee. We became refugees in Europe and had to start over.
At one point, I really did not know what my future would look like.
But I held on to sailing.
It gave me something steady when everything else felt uncertain. It gave me focus, discipline, and a reason to keep going. Even after losing so much, sailing reminded me that my future was not gone — it was still something I could fight for.
As a refugee, I had to rebuild my path in the ILCA 6 Olympic class from the beginning. I kept training and competing through war, displacement, and uncertainty. Step by step, that work led to real results. I became the Vice Youth World Champion in ILCA 6, the Youth European Champion in ILCA 6, and earned multiple podium finishes at major international regattas.
Now my goal is clear: to qualify for and represent Ukraine at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Because of the war, support for Ukrainian athletes is very limited. To keep training and competing at the level an Olympic campaign requires, I need help with the real costs of this journey: coaching, training, equipment, travel, regattas, and physical preparation.
I am still training and competing abroad, including in San Pedro at Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club, on the waters that will host sailing events for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. That connection means a great deal to me and has become an important part of my journey toward that goal.
Preparing for the Olympics is a multi-year journey. My estimated budget through the 2028 Olympic Games is approximately $250,000. This campaign is helping me stay on that path by covering the essential costs of training, coaching, international regattas and travel, equipment and boat maintenance, and fitness and recovery as I continue working toward Los Angeles 2028.
Every donation helps me keep moving forward. I carry with me the memory of athletes whose journeys were cut short by war, and in my own way, I want to honor them by continuing on this path. I race for Ukraine and for the future I still believe in. Every chance I have to train and compete is something I never take for granted.
If my story speaks to you, I would be truly grateful for your support.
Please donate, share my story, and help me reach the 2028 Olympics.
Thank you for believing in me!
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