Ukrainian Marathon Runner WEB
Metadata
- Ukrainian Marathon Runner WEB
- April 15, 2022
- Content Type Package
- Language English
- Transcript/Script USAGM Share ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TV – Ukrainian Marathon Runner – Bakalets HEADLINE: Ukrainian Marathon Runner Wins Jerusalem Race TEASER: PUBLISHED AT: 04/xx/2022 BYLINE: Lesia Bakalets CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: Washington SCRIPT EDITORS: Reifenrath, Jepsen VIDEOGRAPHER: VIDEO SOURCE (S): PLATFORMS: TV only TRT: VID APPROVED BY: TYPE: TVPKG UPDATE: Interview is Zoom, cleared for use)) EDITORS NOTE: ((This script was about 233 spoken words too long. I made suggested cuts—It still could lose about 40 words if possible—Amy R)) ((INTRO)) [[Valentyna Veretska is a runner from Mykolaiv, Ukraine. When Russia invaded her country, she and her daughter fled their hometown for Poland, where she received an invitation to run a marathon in Israel. With no footwear and only two weeks to prepare, she managed not only to run but to win the marathon. Lesia Bakalets has the story, narrated by Anna Rice.]] ((video: https://www.facebook.com/ValentynaVeretskaRunner/videos/714024576433622)) ((NARRATION)) ((Mandatory courtesy: ValentinaVeretskaRunner + Facebook Logo)) ((Valentyna Veretska, Marathon Runner)) “Hello! My name is Valentina Veretska, I’m a Ukrainian athlete, and I’m going to the Jerusalem Marathon!” ((End courtesy)) ((NARRATION)) ((Mandatory courtesy: Valentina Veretska)) Valentina Veretska is a marathon runner from Mykolaiv, Ukraine. She has won dozens of marathons and half-marathons during her sporting career. ((video: https://www.facebook.com/valya.babakoshka/videos/466908428363856)) In February 2022, she was preparing for new victories, but Russia’s ((End courtesy)) ((Mandatory courtesy: ValentinaVeretskaRunner + Facebook Logo)) invasion of Ukraine put a stop to that. ((Valentyna Veretska, Marathon Runner)) ((IN RUSSIAN)) ((03:54-)) “We were woken up by a loud bang. I got up and turned the light on. My husband went outside to see what was going on — what was that bang. By then I had already woken up my kid. I was standing in the doorway with all our documents and said, ‘I’m ready to go.’” ((NARRATION)) As they moved farther from home, they realized ((video: folder HER photos – Valentina_1, 2, 3)) they should head not to a different part of Ukraine, but to the Polish border. From there, Valentina and her daughter moved to a different country. ((Valentyna Veretska, Marathon Runner)) ((IN RUSSIAN)) ((05:30-)) “At the border I felt that was it — it was war. There were crowds of people, there was panic at the border. … Everyone was crying and shouting when they heard the air-raid sirens. // ((07:20-)) We spent 15 hours at the border, we spent the whole night there, and then early in the morning, we crossed the border.” ((NARRATION)) After two days at the refugee camp, friends of friends offered Veretska and her daughter accommodation. ((video: https://jerusalem-marathon.com/en/home-page/)) And just a few days later, she received an email from the Jerusalem Marathon. ((Valentyna Veretska, Marathon Runner)) ((IN RUSSIAN)) ((09:41-)) “'We are glad to invite you to take part in the marathon, ((Mandatory courtesy: Valentina Veretska)) we would be happy if you could come.' // ((08:14-)) By then, I haven’t been running for a while, not since we left Ukraine. ((End courtesy)) For one, I had no proper shoes. But on top of that, I just had no energy, ((Mandatory courtesy: Valentina Veretska)) I had no drive. My daughter was with me, she was safe, but my whole family stayed back home ((End courtesy)) — my parents, sister, brother, my husband — they were all in Mykolaiv.” ((NARRATION)) ((Mandatory courtesy: Valentina Veretska)) But her family and new friends in Poland persuaded her to run. They found suitable running clothes; an acquaintance gave her some sneakers. Most importantly, her daughter said, ((End courtesy)) “Mama, you’re going to win.” ((video: zoom_Valentina + daughter picture)) ((Valentyna Veretska, Marathon Runner)) ((IN RUSSIAN)) ((13:20-))((Zoom)) “She was so sure I needed to go. … Before the start she sent me a picture she drew ((Mandatory courtesy: Valentina Veretska)) where I was standing on the pedestal, having won. How could I explain to her ((End courtesy)) that there were 22,000 participants? I just tried to do everything I could.” ((NARRATION)) Veretska recalls that the first part of the marathon was tough – it was raining, cold and hilly. But once she reached the top of one hill, ((Mandatory courtesy: Valentina Veretska)) everything changed for her. ((End courtesy)) ((Valentyna Veretska, Marathon Runner)) ((IN RUSSIAN)) ((18:53-)) “I looked up and saw a dark rain cloud, and on its other side, bright sunlight. You don’t see such sunlight often, ((Mandatory courtesy: Valentina Veretska)) even in the summer -– it was so bright! And then – amid that dark cloud, ((End courtesy)) a rainbow over the road we were running on. // ((19:26-)) And from that moment, it felt like I didn’t run – I flew.” ((NARRATION)) Veretska was the first woman to finish and the second overall. ((NATS)) ((Valentina crossing the finish line)) ((Valentyna Veretska, Marathon Runner)) ((IN RUSSIAN)) ((23:00-)) “I felt not even my personal victory, but some overwhelming victory, for everyone. As though someone had some huge expectations of me, and I delivered.” ((NARRATION)) ((Mandatory courtesy: ValentinaVeretskaRunner + Facebook Logo)) Veretska is now training in Poland and planning to run more ((End courtesy)) races. ((video: https://www.facebook.com/ValentynaVeretskaRunner/videos/673179097331054/)) She dreams someday to return home, reunite with her ((Mandatory courtesy: ValentinaVeretskaRunner + Facebook Logo)) loved ones — and organize a race in her native Mykolaiv. ((For Lesia Bakalets in Washington, Anna Rice, VOA News)) ((End courtesy))
- NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
- Network VOA
- Embargo Date April 15, 2022 13:52 EDT
- Byline Lesia Bakalets
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English