Ukrainian Olympic sailing champion Ihor Matviienko builds a new base in Limassol

Limassol, Cyprus. Ihor Matviienko, who won Ukraine’s only Olympic sailing gold medal with Yevhen Braslavets in Atlanta in 1996, is now based at Limassol Marina. The 55-year-old is involved with RS21 Cyprus, a new sailing club cooperating with the Nautical Club of Limassol.

Ukraine’s first independent Olympic Games

Ukraine’s participation in the Olympics under its own name is relatively recent. Its athletes competed with Poland, Romania and Czechoslovakia in the 1930s, later as part of the USSR and, briefly, with the “Unified Team” of former Soviet republics.

The newly independent country first competed under its own name at Atlanta 1996, the centenary Games. Ukraine won nine gold medals, including its only Olympic sailing gold, secured by Matviienko and Braslavets in the men’s 470 class.

Speaking in the air-conditioned section of Caffe Nero at Limassol Marina, Matviienko attributed part of that success to luck.

“In Atlanta we were mostly lucky,” he said with a deep chuckle. “And we got the gold.”

He said they also fought for medals at subsequent Olympics but were less fortunate. The pair competed in the same class at Sydney 2000, finishing sixth, and Athens 2004, finishing ninth.

The demands of the 470 class

The 470 is a two-person dinghy measuring 4.7 metres, which gives the class its name. YouTube footage shows the small boats often partly obscured by large swells.

The crew’s optimal combined weight is 110–145 kilograms, with balance essential to preventing the boat from tipping. One crew member can extend almost horizontally, at a right angle to the sail and attached by a line, “feeling the wave, the wind, everything”, as Matviienko described it.

Matviienko’s role was outside the boat, managing its balance and handling the jib and spinnaker. Braslavets controlled the helm, or rudder, and the mainsail.

Asked whether his own role was harder, Matviienko agreed with another chuckle.

He cited Ukrainian coach Victor Kovalenko, known as the “Medal Maker”, as a mentor. According to Wikipedia, Kovalenko considers the 470 “the most difficult and most satisfying boat to sail”.

A sailing role in Limassol

Matviienko is not simply visiting Limassol Marina; it is now his base. RS21 Cyprus describes him on its website as its “Chief Visionary, and Head of Training”.

At 55, he is almost bald and has a salt-and-pepper beard. During the interview, he spoke quietly and directly, with alert green eyes, a humorous manner and an occasional gentle smile.