Flying the f lag, Miss Ukraine’s marathon glory

A FORMER Miss Ukraine crossed the finish line of the London Marathon yesterday draped in her nation’s flag.

Viktoriya Kiose, 29, ran the gruelling 26.2 miles alongside her fiance Kostiantyn Bidnenko and finished in under four hours.

The couple, who fled their homeland last

February and have lived here since May, ran to raise money for United2 , a Ukrainian foundation. ‘When you hear people support you and scream the name of your country, you feel a responsibility not only for yourself, but for your country and people too,’ said

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Mr Bidnenko, whose partner was Miss Ukraine 2017.

Footballers Jill Scott, Ellen White and Leah Williamson sounded the klaxon to start the event. Among the

2,000 runners were Olympian James Cracknell, 50, BBC newsreader Sophie Raworth, 5 , DJ Chris Evans, 56, and McFly’s Harry Judd, 36.

The marathon will reclaim its usual slot in April next year, having moved to October due to Covid. The men’s race was won by Amos Kipruto in two hours, four minutes and 39 seconds. In the women’s race, Yalemzerf Yehualaw won in two hours, 17 minutes and 26 seconds.

‘You hear the support’