Paris 2024 Olympics: Why am I participating in the Olympics while people are dying in my country?

Two years later, the 27-year-old sport climber is preparing for Olympic competition in two types of sport climbing – bouldering and led – known as combined events, which combine bouldering and led climbing.

It is an achievement that Kazbekova could not have imagined when she and her family, like millions of others, were forced to flee Ukraine after war broke out in February 2022.

“Everyone was running away, trying to survive, it was a terrible time. Food was cut off, we had nothing left, we were not even allowed to stop,” Kazbekova told BBC Radio.

Kazbekova, along with her sister and parents, drove for four days to reach Germany and had to wait two days to cross the Polish border.

“You keep walking, sometimes you are in a five-kilometre line to the border and you move five metres every few minutes. You can’t sleep, you can’t take care of yourself properly,” she said.

“We arrived in Germany completely exhausted, but despite the difficult experience, we are among the lucky ones who had the opportunity to escape, as there are many people who had to stay in Ukraine,” Kazbekova added.

Climbing is a constant in Kazbekova’s life, the primary “coping mechanism” she relies on during times of upheaval and trauma.

Her coach, Malek, helped her realize the importance of pursuing your dreams. He himself had fled war in his home country of Lebanon when he was 18.

“He knew exactly what I was going through without me even having to tell him, and he was able to light my way and pull me out of the darkness of sadness and loss,” Kazbekova says.

“I saw no point in climbing while people in my country were dying and I no longer saw or felt any benefit from competitions and rivalry in the shadow of death.”

“My coach Malik was able to broaden my mindset and make me realize how important it is for me to be present, how important it is to make even one person care, to make one person understand what is going on in my country, to help in some small way.”

Climbing, for Kazbekova, is not just a sport, it’s something that has been a family legacy for generations.

Both her grandparents and parents competed internationally in the sport, and Kazbekova remembers growing up on the courts, with her parents taking her to World Cups and tournaments from a young age.

“Climbing is actually part of my family heritage, it’s what keeps me alive and balanced,” Kazbekova said. “It’s the only way I can put my phone down and focus on myself, stop watching the news, stop worrying and just do what I love.”

Now Kazbekova has her sights firmly set on the Olympic Games in Paris, where climbing will be making only its second appearance at the Games.

Kazbekova will make her Olympic debut after missing Tokyo three years ago after battling Covid.

“Being in Paris, being able to wear the Ukrainian uniform and show how resilient Ukrainians are, is a dream come true, and that is my biggest motivation now,” Kazbekova says.

Kazbekova booked her place in Paris via the Olympic qualifying series in Shanghai and Budapest last month, where she finished sixth overall.

“How much it means to Ukraine now to have representation in the world to continue to remind people that we still need help, we still need support, and we are still fighting hard in a battle that means so much,” she added.