Exiled Athletes: From Sporting Heroes to New Beginnings

Artur Udrys, a former Belarusian national volleyball player, has retrained as a psychologist in Poland after quitting his team following the controversial 2020 presidential election. He now supports Belarusian athletes who fled the country due to political repression, helping them navigate life beyond their sports careers.

Artur Udrys, a former volleyball player for Belarus, quit the national team after the disputed 2020 presidential election that led to widespread protests. Udrys, like many elite athletes, opposed President Alexander Lukashenko.

Now residing in Poland, Udrys has retrained as a psychologist, aiding other exiled Belarusian athletes in adjusting to their new lives. These athletes were forced to leave Belarus due to the government's violent crackdown on protestors, leaving them unable to continue their sports careers.

Many face challenges such as finding new professions and overcoming feelings of shame. For instance, athletes like Andrei Krauchanka and Yelena Leuchanka faced imprisonment, while others lost jobs or were removed from national teams. The few Belarusians competing in the Paris Olympics will do so as neutrals, vetted to ensure they don't support the war in Ukraine.

(With inputs from agencies.)