RENAISSANCE OF KYIV: Klitschko brothers are known worldwide (12/01/02)

RENAISSANCE OF KYIV: Klitschko brothers are known worldwide

by Marta Kolomayets and Natalia A. Feduschak

KYIV - For boxing brothers Vitalii and Volodymyr Klitschko, Kyiv mayor Oleksander Omelchenko is more than a friend, a business partner or a spiritual father.

He is their lucky talisman.

"The only fight I ever lost was when Oleksander did not come to Germany," said Vitalii, who at 31 has the enviable record of 31-1 with 30 knockouts. "And that's when Oleksander Oleksandrovych promised to be at every fight."

"It is not a political relationship, it is a friendship," said Volodymyr, the younger Klitschko who was an Olympic gold medalist in the 1996 Atlanta Games and currently holds the World Boxing Organization championship title. His record of 40-1 with 36 knockouts rivals that of his brother's. (The younger Klitschko is known as Volodymyr in Ukrainian and Vladimir in Russian, and is known by the German spelling Wladimir in the boxing world.)

For Mr. Omelchenko, the relationship with the Klitschkos is not only cherished, but one that is reminiscent of the mayor's past when he traveled with his two sons, Ian, 36, and Oleksander, 34, to their boxing matches in rings across the then-Soviet Union.

"They are like sons," Mr. Omelchenko said of the brothers. "The first thing is that the nation should be proud of people like the Klitschkos."

Other Ukrainian athletes like skaters Oksana Baiul or Viktor Petrenko and gymnast Lilla Podkopayeva may be better known to the Ukrainian community in the United States and Canada. Yet to an entire generation of Ukrainians in Ukraine, as well as many youths around the world, the Klitschko brothers are positive role models and a phenomenon. Their good will and grace have won them high marks not only among sports enthusiasts. Today, even though they live in Germany, they have become Ukraine's most important ambassadors.

"Of course we come from Ukraine, we don't want to forget our country," said 26-year-old Volodymyr. "We want to do something for Ukraine because the people in Ukraine need it and we want to try to make some commercial (public relations) for Ukraine worldwide."

What the Williams' sisters are to tennis, the Klitschko brothers are to boxing. In the six years since they signed on with Germany's Universum Box Promotion after Volodymyr's Olympic win, they have conquered Europe's boxing arenas and have now set their sights on America. They have seen world capitals, met with international leaders, including former President Bill Clinton, and are involved in the important work of helping children in need worldwide by being UNESCO ambassadors.

While boxing promoters are trying to promote them, the Klitschkos and their friend the mayor are trying to promote Kyiv.

The brothers have been big supporters of Mr. Omelchenko, whom they met six years ago, in part because they have a shared belief about the city's future. The brothers have been very active in construction projects throughout Kyiv. Most prominently, they have helped in the reconstruction of St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral, where the Klitschkos helped with the construction of an angel and even placed tiles in some of the church's mosaics. They have also helped restore historic buildings in Kyiv's center.

"I think Kyiv is one of the most beautiful cities in the world," said Volodymyr. "Sometimes it looks like Vienna, sometimes like Zurich or Hamburg, a real European city. Every time I come back something changes for the better here, for the best."

Since moving to Germany, the Klitschkos have become two of the top five most popular athletes in Germany. Their first fitness book, published in German, came out with an initial printing of 500,000 copies, the largest in that country's publishing history. Volodymyr appeared in the Hollywood film "Ocean's Eleven" in a fictitious match with world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, a bout that ended with no clear winner as the script called for the lights to go out.

The Klitschkos' popularity is expected to grow as both brothers make inroads in the mecca of boxing - the United States. In fights to be broadcast on HBO, Volodymyr will go into the ring December 7 in Las Vegas, where he will meet Jameel McCline to defend his WBO title. (Mr. Omelchenko is expected to attend the match in the role of talisman.)

In recent news, Vitalli's 10th round defeat of Larry Donald in Germany on November 23 has put the younger Klitschko in the contender's seat for a bout with World Boxing Council championship belt holder Lennox Lewis. Although no exact date has been scheduled the fight is likely take place during the first quater of 2003.

If Vitalii prevails, it will be not only a victory for him - and a chance at super-stardom - but a victory for their homeland. No matter how big they get, they will always come home.

"All my life I have traveled the world," said Vitalii, who was born in Kyrghyzstan, where his father served in the Soviet military. "But my home is Kyiv. My home is Ukraine because my ancestors are from Ukraine. I grew up here."

The brothers have had offers to change their citizenship. Their answer has always been, 'What's the point?'.

"I had some proposition to change my citizenship and for what?," said Vitalii. "You are a citizen where you have a good feeling, where you have family and where you have friends. That's your country. I feel good in Ukraine. I have a mentality from my country and I can't change my mentality. I am from Ukraine."

Said Volodymyr, who was born in the Central Asian country of Kazakstan, "It (Kyiv) is my home because I always come back."

The Klitschko brothers are similar in many ways. They are very polite, have GQ good looks and a charisma that electrifies a room. Certainly, they tower over everyone present. Vitalii stands at 6 feet 8 inches and weighs in at 245 pounds. Volodymyr is only slightly shorter - by 2 inches. His weight is 243 pounds.

Both hold doctorates in philosophy and speak several languages well, including English and German. Volodymyr speaks good Ukrainian, a tidbit that has surprised even some of Ukraine's more nationally minded politicians. Vitalii's Ukrainian is more hesitant; he promised to "speak his native tongue" at the next interview.

Still, the brothers recognize the importance of language and identity. Their fitness book, geared toward people who care about their health, is expected to be published not only in Russian - a hugely lucrative market - but in Ukrainian as well.

It is this sort of patriotism that separates the Klitschkos from many other leading Ukrainian sports figures who have come out of the Soviet experience. Like pole-vaulting great Serhiy Bubka, who is now a member of Ukraine's Parliament, they are consciously promoting their country abroad, even as scandals rock international relations and grab headlines.

"We make Ukraine's politics in the West," said Vitalii. Although he has no political ambitions so far, he sees the importance of his role in promoting Ukraine abroad.

"When we can help our country we will be happy," he said.

Given the current state of Ukraine's internal affairs, however, promoting his homeland has not always been an easy job, Vitalii admitted.

Although their emphasis now is to break into the U.S. market, the Klitschkos are well aware that a boxer's sporting life is short. They have several undisclosed business interests in Ukraine. They can spend anywhere between one to three months a year in Ukraine when they're not traveling. They make a point to return to Ukraine after each bout.

Thanks to the Klitschkos and Mayor Omelchenko, Ukrainians are able to watch the brothers and other boxing matches live, something they would not be able to do otherwise. The Klitschkos are so popular here that millions of Ukrainians have risen early in the morning, when it is still dark out, to watch them fight. Their matches are avidly discussed among friends and on public transport.

Even Mr. Omelchenko has become a well-known name in Germany, thanks in part because he makes it a point to be at Klitschko fights.

The Klitschko brothers have also become a bridge between Ukraine and Germany, an important trading partner. When Germany opened its new embassy in downtown Kyiv, the brothers made a special trip to the capital to be on hand.

Not surprisingly, they were the main attraction.

Natalia A. Feduschak is a freelance journalist who has written for The Washington Times, The Denver Post, The Wall Street Journal and other U.S. and Canada-based publications. She divides her time between the United States and Ukraine. She is also a former staffer of The Ukrainian Weekly (1985-1987).

This article is the fifth in a series on the "Renaissance of Kyiv."

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