Tokyo 2025 – Ukraine Dominate Both Men’s and Women’s Sprint Orienteering
What an explosive start to the Deaflympics in Tokyo — not just in the men’s race, but across the women’s field too. Orienteering opened the Games with back-to-back masterclasses from Team Ukraine, who didn’t just impress… they owned the podiums.
Ukraine stormed the first event of the Games with a perfect 1–2–3 finish.
Gold: Nazar Levytskyi – 12:57
Silver: Dmytro Levin – 13:54
Bronze: Volodymyr Fedoseienko – 14:00
It was a commanding performance, setting the tone for Ukraine’s campaign.
Then the women stepped up — and delivered something just as breathtaking.
Ukraine didn’t just win. They swept the entire podium again.
Gold: Anna Vanasaun – 11:57
Silver: Hanna Fedosieieva – 12:16
Bronze: Hanna Androsovych – 12:40
All three were sharp, fast, and utterly fearless on the Tokyo course. Finland’s Sara-Elise Ruokonen and Lithuania’s Adrija Atgalaine chased hard, but Ukraine’s trio were simply untouchable.
Two events. Two podium sweeps. Six medals — all Ukrainian.
If today is any indication, Ukraine’s orienteering squad is here not just to compete, but to set the pace for the entire Deaflympics.
Tokyo 2025 has only just begun, and already the storylines are electric. More results, more drama, and more phenomenal athletic performances are on the way.
The unseen barrier that perpetuates the discrimination of deaf people in sport.
Audism is the belief that hearing and speaking are superior to being deaf and using sign language. It leads to discrimination and systemic barriers that marginalize deaf people in education, employment, and sport. The term was coined by Tom Humphries (1977)and has since been explored in Deaf Studies and Disability Studies.
In sport, audism manifests in coaching structures, team dynamics, funding, communication, and access to opportunities. Many sporting organizations fail to recognize Deaf sport as distinct from disability sport or do not provide adequate accommodations, which limits deaf athletes’ participation and success.
Prof Tom Humphries first coined the phrase Audism in the 1970s
Key Aspects of Audism in Deaf Sport:
Linguistic Discrimination – Favouring spoken language over sign language
For many coaches and team staff verbal communication is the default, leaving deaf athletes struggling to follow instructions in training and competition. The also take the path of least resistance and engage more with non-signers.
Most organisations in the sports economy fail to provide sign language interpreters, assuming that lip-reading or written communication is enough—despite evidence that lip-reading is only about 30-40% effective.
Deaf sports teams and events often receive less media coverage because they do not fit traditional (spoken language-based) broadcasting formats.
Medical Model Bias – Viewing deafness as a “deficiency” that needs fixing
Sports federations inadvertently, out of ignorance, prioritize hearing aids or cochlear implants over sign language and accessible communication strategies, pushing deaf athletes toward a “hearing” approach to sport.
Deaf athletes who do not use hearing technology are overlooked or excluded because coaches and administrators see them as “too difficult to work with.”
In classification systems for disability sports, such as the European Disability Golf Association, deaf athletes are disallowed from competing in their elite class compete because deafness alone does not qualify them for Paralympic categories, reinforcing the idea that the lived-experience of deaf athletes and the Deaflympic classification is less valid.
Institutional Barriers – Lack of access to coaching, funding, and competition pathways
Many national governing bodies do not fund elite Deaf sport at the same level as other disability sports, making it harder for deaf athletes to access high-performance training.
Deaf athletes often face fewer opportunities to compete internationally because Deaf-specific events (like the Deaflympics) receive far less support compared to the Paralympics or mainstream sport.
In some cases, deaf players in mainstream teams are expected to “adapt” rather than teams making accommodations for them. For example, if a referee relies only on a whistle, a deaf athlete misses key signals during a match.
Cultural Erasure – Disregarding Deaf sport as a distinct culture
Deaf sport has its own history, traditions, and rules, yet many sports organizations treat Deaf sport as an afterthought, assuming deaf athletes should just integrate into mainstream teams.
Sporting federations sometimes fail to recognize Deaf sport records and achievements, treating them as secondary to hearing competitions.
Deaf athletes feel pressured to conform to hearing norms rather than being encouraged to celebrate Deaf identity in sport.
Sports federations (Cricket Australia) initially adopting deaf sports teams but over time failing to recognise the strategic significance of their Deaf sport partners (Deaf Cricket Australia) and capitalising on Deaf Gain.
Everyday Prejudice – Patronizing attitudes and lack of inclusion in team culture
Deaf athletes in mixed (hearing and deaf) teams often experience exclusion—for example, being left out of informal team chats or not being fully involved in pre-game strategy discussions.
Hearing coaches and teammates sometimes assume deaf athletes need “extra help”, even when they are fully capable of competing at the same level.
There have been reports of derogatory remarks made against deaf players in mixed disability teams, reinforcing the idea that they are not fully accepted.
Audism in sport is not just about access—it’s about respect, equity, and recognition. True inclusion means more than adding an interpreter or letting a deaf player join a hearing team—it requires systemic changes in funding, training, and competition structures. Recognizing Deaf sport as a distinct and equal sporting category is crucial for breaking down audism and allowing deaf athletes to compete and thrive on their own terms.
As Great Britain and other nations prepare for the 2025 Summer Deaflympics in Tokyo in 306 days time, several challenges emerge, particularly when compared to nations that provide robust governmental recognition and funding for their deaf athletes.
Funding Disparities
In the UK, elite deaf athletes often receive less financial support than their counterparts in the Olympics and Paralympics. This lack of elite funding hinders their access to top-tier training facilities, coaching, and competition opportunities, potentially affecting performance levels. In contrast, countries with substantial government backing can offer their athletes comprehensive support, leading to a more conducive environment for success. Chris Ratcliffe, CEO of UK Deaf Sport explains to the BBC why “We have to fund the Deaflympics Ourselves”
Recognition and Awareness
The Deaflympics historically receive less media coverage and public attention in Great Britain compared to the Olympics and Paralympics. This limited visibility results in fewer sponsorship opportunities and a lack of public support, which are crucial for athlete development and morale. Nations that actively promote deaf sports and celebrate their athletes’ achievements tend to foster a more inclusive sporting culture.
Access to Training Facilities
Deaf athletes in the UK face challenges in accessing training facilities equipped to meet their specific needs. This includes the availability of sign language interpreters and coaches trained to work with deaf athletes. Without adequate facilities and support, athletes may struggle to reach their full potential. In contrast, countries with dedicated resources for deaf athletes can provide tailored training environments that enhance performance. It has been argued that there is coaching talent and experience within the Deaf sports community, that would provide the coaching and technical support required which then reduces the need for expensive interpreting and the deployment of coaches who may be highly qualified but lack the communication skills and cultural essence needed to lead in elite sport.
International Competition Experience
Limited funding and support can restrict opportunities for British deaf athletes to compete internationally, which is vital for gaining experience and improving performance. Regular exposure to international competitions allows athletes to benchmark against top competitors and adapt to different competitive environments. Countries that invest in sending their athletes to international events provide them with invaluable experience that can be advantageous during the Deaflympics.
Advocacy and Policy Support
The level of advocacy and policy support for deaf athletes varies between countries. In the UK, the #FairPlayforDeafAthletes campaign is advocating stronger policies form the Department of Culture, media and Sport that will ensure equal opportunities and support for deaf athletes. The UK may argue that the current economic climate makes it very difficult to provide such funding but this will not stand up against the commitments made by countries such as Ukraine whose resources are also engaged in the heroic defence of their territory in war with Russia.
Addressing these challenges requires a concerted effort from sports governing bodies, policymakers, and the community to ensure that British deaf athletes are adequately supported and prepared to compete on an equal footing with their international counterparts at the 2025 Summer Deaflympics in Tokyo.
The Ukraine Ministry of Youth and Sport continues to recognise Deaf athletes alongside their Olympic and Paralympic peers.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to inclusivity in sports by officially recognizing Deaflympians as equals to their Olympic and Paralympic peers. This significant milestone was solidified through Order No. 7742, signed on December 23, 2024, which introduces updated criteria for identifying key enterprises and organizations crucial to the national economy within the field of sports during special periods.
A Milestone in Sports Equality
Under the new directive, the Ministry has explicitly included the development and support of the Deaflympic movement alongside Olympic and Paralympic initiatives. This move ensures that Deaf athletes receive the same level of backing in training, competition, and resource allocation, reinforcing Ukraine’s position as a leader in sports inclusivity.
Key aspects of the approved criteria include:
Supporting the development of physical culture and both Olympic and non-Olympic sports in Ukraine.
Guaranteeing the execution of events listed in the Unified Calendar of Physical Culture, Sports Events, and Competitions.
Providing comprehensive training for national team athletes in sports officially recognized in Ukraine.
Implementing anti-doping measures across all sports activities.
Organizing and facilitating nationwide physical culture and sports rehabilitation programs for individuals with disabilities, military personnel, and ensuring the operational efficiency of Paralympic and Deaflympic training bases.
Logo of Ukraine Deaf Sport
Advancing Inclusivity in Sports
This landmark decision demonstrates Ukraine’s dedication to fostering an environment where Deaf athletes have equitable opportunities to excel and represent their nation on the world stage. By embedding Deaflympic support into national sports policies, the Ministry is not only investing in athletic excellence but also championing the rights and recognition of athletes with hearing impairments.
As global conversations around inclusivity in sports continue to evolve, Ukraine’s progressive stance serves as a model for other nations striving to create truly inclusive sports environments. This announcement marks a proud moment for the Ukrainian sports community and a promising future for Deaf athletes nationwide.
We celebrate this vital step towards equal recognition and look forward to witnessing Ukraine’s Deaflympians continue to thrive and inspire.
The disgraced former ICSD President Valery Rukhledev as been removed from the list of ICSD Medal of Honor recipients and he has been asked to return the award.
Valery Rukhledev
Rukhledev was the 9th ICSD President form 2013 -2018 despite concerns about his integrity to hold office. The Russian Deaf community had long been dissatisfied with VOG, the All-Russian Society of the Deaf of which he also presided whilst ICSD president.
As we reported here, earlier this month, Rukhledev has been sentenced to seven years on a penal colony for his part in embezzling funds relating to VOG. Because of this, the ICSD Executive has decided to withdraw the medal of Honor that he was awarded in 2017 in recognition of his contributions to international deaf sports. The Executive decided that ‘Mr Rukhledev no longer meets the criteria for this esteemed award.’
The global Deaf community has reacted in frustration to the ICSD handling of further misdemeanours by their Russian-based CEO.
Earlier this month, Deaf sports community watchers were alerted to the fact that the ICSD CEO was endorsing and leading Russia’s plans to hold their own government sponsored, ‘Alternative Summer Deaflympics’ because they, along with Belarus are banned from international competitions due to their stance on the illegal invasion of Ukraine.
Nothing wrong with Russia doing their own thing, they have to to everything they can to keep the Russian population in the dark on what’s happening in Ukraine.
But a news video broadcasted on You Tube by Russian Deaf Television, shows Dmitry Rebrov, the employee of the ICSD and supposed guardian of the Deaflympic brand, endorsing the “Alternative Deaflympic Summer Games” in Ufa, Russia.
video created by Russian Deaf TV
Shocked by this blatant disregard for the integrity of Deaf sport, and a claim that Russia intends to invite other nations to participate, the Deaflympic historian Pinchas, shared the story and video on 3rd March asking what ICSD planned to do about it.
On 21st March, ICSD issued a statement that:
“According to our current information, the sports event is organised by the Government of the Russian Federation and the All-Russian Sports federation of Deaf Sport (OSFSG). The sports organisation is not a member of the ICSD. According to the sports federation, the word “Deaflympics” will not be used officially at the event.
The ICSD will not give any form of permission for the use of the word ‘Deaflympics’ and will closely monitor the organisation of the Russian Summer Games of Deaf Athletes “We are Together” and if necessary, take action and take any necessary steps against any possible unlawful use of the word “Deaflympics”.
The statement finished by explaining their actions towards Rebrov: “Mr. Dmitry Rebrov has agreed to refrain from promoting and organising the Summer Games of Deaf Athletes “We are Together Sport”.
Once again, people are feeling that Rebrov brings the ICSD and the Deaflympics into disrepute, and infuriated Deaf people have commented on this direct to ICSD, that stronger action should be taken by the ICSD Board. Indeed how on earth are they going to ‘closely monitor‘ what’s going on in Russia ?
“Imagine if the well known Deaf sports historian did not post (the story) on social media it would have made things worse for ICSD. Why didn’t the ICSD CEO inform ICSD about the alternative Deaflympics in the first place. It sounds very strange and awkward.” Donal Desmond
“While Russian athletes are banned from competing in most international sport, due to multiple state sponsored doping and their highly illegal invasion of Ukraine, ICSD should not be employing a Russian! He has been guilty of audiogram fraud. This undermines ICSD’s efforts to build a good reputation”John Neilson
Of course, Miguel Alejandro and others are wondering “why all the fuss” when we should be promoting and putting Deaf athletes first. But this is seen as ignorant and the lack of concern for the unprofessionalism and disregard shown by Rebrov continues to go unchecked.
The lukewarm reactions by non-Western nations to Russian doping, audiogram frauds, imposter athletes and ICSDs continuance to employ a Russian to oversee Deaf sport and to appoint Russians as Technical Directors etc reflects the geopolitical attitude towards the West that we see in mainstream society and such sentiments are no different in the global Deaf community. Perhaps that explains why Rebrov still has a job and why, as far as we know, the IOC has not yet restored it’s funding and full support to ICSD.
The court sentenced the ex-head of VOG Rukhledev to 7 years in prison for a multi-million dollar embezzlement
The Khamovniki Court of Moscow today, March 22, 2023, sentenced the former president of the All-Russian Society of the Deaf (VOG) Valery Rukhledev to 7 years in a penal colony in the case of multimillion-dollar embezzlement of the organization’s funds.
According to TASS, “the court decided to find Rukhledev guilty and sentence him to 7 years in a penal colony,” the judge announced the decision.
In addition, the court announced the verdict for other defendants. Thus, the former VOG lawyer Yevgeny Novoseltsev was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison, and the court appointed Tatyana Zembatova, head of the finance department, 4.5 years in a penal colony.
According to media reports, a criminal case on the theft of more than 300 million roubles in the All-Russian Society of the Deaf was initiated in 2018 under the article fraud on an especially large scale, it was then that the investigation detained Novoselets, who also headed the VOG subsidiary. Later, the then president of the VOG, Rukhledev, Zembatova, and legal assistant Irina Rudenko were detained. The Rudenko case was separated into a separate proceeding and considered in a special order, since she repented and fully admitted her guilt.
Rukhledev was also President of the ICSD (International Deaf Sport for the Deaf) he was elected in 2013 and then removed after he was placed under house arrest in 2018.
The legal representatives of the Russian beach Volleyball athlete Rushan Dayanov have filed a lawsuit of slander to protect his honour and dignity against accusations made by Valery Rukhledev in a TV interview that he is in fact hearing and should not be competing in deaf sport.
Extract from Video: Dayanov having an audiometry test (copyright DEAFNET)
We are grateful to readers of our website who have alerted us to this case. The information is available on the Russian website DEAFNET from October 2022. It also has a video of Dayanov as he has a hearing test to prove that his deafness meets ICSD standards of 55dB or more in the better ear.
The story came about after ICSD received an anonymous latter claiming that the athlete has fraudulently won a Beach Volleyball gold medal at the 2005 Deaflympics in Melbourne. Such accusation are very serious for Russian athletes because if they are disqualified, they not only lose their medal but also a pension from the government.
Dayanov and Ivanov at the medal ceremony (copyright DEAFNET)
Dayanov’s team-mate in the Beach Volleyball competition was Stanislav Ivanov the head of the All-Russian Society of the Deaf (VOG) which suggests that the letter was actually written by disgruntled former employees at VOG who have a vendetta against Ivanov and that Dayanov has become the scapegoat.
Ruslan Daryakuliev, Dayanov’s Lawyer (copyright DEAFNET)
The lawyer representing Dayanov claim to have irrefutable proof of his hearing loss and in the video, the athlete said “I achieved the championship with sweat and blood, worked hard for 20 years to deserve this prize- not only for myself, but first of all the country. This whole situation was an absolute shockfor me. I have nothing to hide. It hurts that for the sake of petty intrigues, swindlers are ready to break a persons life.”
The lawyer Daryakuliev promises that the response to slander would be ‘extremely harsh’. The defendants in the case are Rukhledev, the All-Russian Television of the Deaf and its editor in chief Alexander Soldatov. Applications have already been prepared to initiate criminal cases under the charge of ‘slander’.
Valery Rukhledev, former ICSD President speaking to All-Russian Deaf TV (copyright DEAFNET)
The video in the article shows Rukhledev talking to All-Russian Deaf TV “Dyanov spoke among the deaf, but in fact he is 100% hearing”. he speaks fluently and does not know sign language. This is already a global scandal.”
This case does raise issues around the proof that athletes require to compete in international deaf sports. In the athlete’s defence it has been explained that he has speech that is almost indistinguishable from that of hearing people because he did not become deaf until he was 10 years old after a serious illness. Comments on the website suggest that it may be very difficult to prove what his hearing was like in 2005, because Dayanov is now 62/63 years of age and likely that he would present such a level of deafness for his age.
The video showing Dayanov’s Deaflympic medals (Copyright DEAFNET)
His last Deaflympic competition was in 2017 when he won a bronze medal in the beach Volleyball.
The lawyer also argues that the Russian Deaflympic committee should not be undertaking disciplinary checks on the basis of an anonymous letter and should have taken measures to protect athletes from anonymous accusations and identifying the authors of such letters.
Russian Deaflympic team with President Putin (copyright DEAFNET)
We have no updates on this case, perhaps our readers will keep us informed?
DGSV have announced the resignation of their President Josef Willmerdinger.
DGSV announced on 24.11.2021 that they have, with ‘deep regret‘, accepted the resignation of their President Josef Willmerdinger for health reasons.
Josef Willmerdinger (c. gsc-frankenthal.de)
He has been highly praised for his ‘sovereign manner’ in leadership with his ‘great commitment to deaf sport and international events’. Highly respected in the association by its volunteers and the numerous sports agencies in Germany.
‘We will miss him very much’
DSGV plan to hold an extraordinary association meeting in the first quarter of 2022, to find a temporary President and the current vacancy of the Vice President for Sports Development.
Willmerdinger previously served as ICSD Vice President World Sports and competed in the Deaflympics football competitions of Bucharest 1977 and Koln 1981.
Ahead of today’s European Deaf Sport Organisation Congress, former General Secretary shared an open letter and vlog to explain the situation about his dismissal and concerns of poor leadership.
VIDEO INTRO:
A brief explanation of this article
Today, Saturday 10 July 2021, at the European Deaf Sport Organisation (EDSO) online Congress, one of its national members, UK Deaf Sport will table a motion of no confidence in the EDSO Board. The reason for this relates to the unexplained reasons for the 2019 abrupt dismissal of Philip Gerrard, a Vice President of UK Deaf Sport who, at the time was the EDSO Secretary General – In 2018, he was overwhelmingly voted in by the EDSO membership on his popular manifesto to help EDSO modernise and reform.
Gerrard has asked Two Big Ears to publish his IS vlog here for the benefit of the whole European Deaf Community as a matter of public interest. The vlog will be uncomfortable viewing for members of the EDSO Board because its is a frank account of concerns:
VIDEO FROM P. GERRARD:
Philip Gerrard Explains reason behind the vote of no confidence. This vlog is in International Sign
During his tenure, Gerrard kept his word to support EDSO by following up on his promises, he identified the following challenges facing the EDSO Board:
Lack of strategic thinking presented and reported on to member countries at meetings and in-between.
Lack of opportunities and encouragement for women to join the EDSO Board.
Lack of robust and transparent financial processes which led to the closure of the EDSO bank account.
After Gerrard was dismissed, UK Deaf Sport and other countries were expecting to see an improvement or changes made to the organisational issues that were raised. But since nothing has happened, the motion to make a vote of no confidence has been submitted.
Considering the amount of time that has passed since his dismissal, Gerrard has written an email and a vlog for the EDSO members to read to ensure that they fully understand the reasons for the vote of no confidence. Gerrard has also asked Two Big Ears to publish both the vlog and the messages here so that the grassroots membership in deaf sports clubs as well as the Deaf community in European nations have full access to what is going on.
As we publish this post, we understand that other nations have pledged their support to vote for this. In addition to explaining the reasons for the vote of no confidence, the motion also puts forwards recommendations that:
All EDSO members deliver a vote of no confidence and ask for an independent review into the reasons for the dismissal of Philip Gerrard as EDSO Secretary General and;
That the EDSO Board engage with its members to ensure that national representatives can fully access future EDSO meetings and events.
When we were approached by Philip Gerrard, we asked him why he wanted to go public. His explanation was straight to the point: “To give members the opportunity to seek reform with EDSO.”
Ahead of todays EDSO congress, UK Deaf Sport has sent in a message of support to Gerrard’s email and expressed their concerns “We are disappointed with the expereince our UK Deaf Sport International Relations ambassador has had, and look forward to seeing steps taken by EDSO to ensure greater commitment towards gender equity and good governance which is something we strongly believe in.”
UK Deaf Sport will be represented at the Congress by Gordon Hay, from the UKDS International Relations Group and Valerie Copenhagen, UKDS Executive Director. They will also table a second motion that EDSO meetings (online and face to face) must modernise and be delivered with captions in English alongside International Signs. Readers will ask “Why English?” In line with international protocol, English is the official language of communications for official EDSO business and this is stated in the EDSO constitution.
Two Big Ears 