Vitali Klitschko, the Mayor of Kyiv and a silver medallist in the 1995 World Boxing Championships, has been bestowed with the prestigious Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the ESPY Awards 2022. 

Klitschko, 51, was once a professional boxer, but turned his attention to politics in 2012 after a successful career in sports, becoming the Mayor of Kyiv in 2014. In recent months, he has become one of the faces of Ukraine’s staunch resistance to Russian aggression in the Slavic region, leading from the front and uniting his people in their fight to retain their sovereignty. He has, thus far, helped successfully defend the historic city, Kyiv from a Russian siege that lasted weeks.

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The Arthur Ashe Award for Courage is one of the most prestigious awards in sport, for in many ways it transcends the world of sports altogether. It has been awarded to those people in the sporting world that have made a difference and impacted the lives of many with their courage and fortitude in the face of adversity, and Rob King, Executive Editor-At-Large ESPN Content was keen to highlight this. 

“Vitali’s poise and strength as his city and country faces unfathomable tests have far surpassed the incredible resolve he demonstrated as one of boxing’s top heavyweight champions,” said King on Klitschko. “His commitment to the people of Ukraine has been a global inspiration, and his bravery is a prime example of the resilience of the human spirit. It is our privilege to bestow him with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award.”

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Hollywood actor Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson received the award on behalf of Klitschko who remained in Ukraine to continue his good work. Johnson also paid homage to the Ukrainian.

“Vitali is a hero, who has shown the world what courage truly looks like,” he said. 

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Klitschko has dedicated the award to all the people of Ukraine. 

“It is a great honour for me to receive this award,” he said in a statement to ESPN. “I am convinced that this is a recognition of the courage and inviolability of the Ukrainian people, who have been bravely resisting the Russian aggressor for more than 3 months. This is an award for everyone who defends the independence and freedom of Ukraine.”