Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk is thinking seriously about joining the sprinting team for Ukraine at the Olympics.
Mudryk eyes Olympics dream
Mykhailo Mudryk’s story at Chelsea has been anything but smooth. He was signed with high hopes and billed as one of Europe’s fastest wingers. He lit up his debut against Liverpool with raw speed and flair.
However, the momentum from that early excitement never really carried through into steady form. Injuries, a lack of confidence, and stiff competition for places led to him being much more of an extra than a star performer thereafter.
It only got worse for him when he failed a doping test at the end of 2024. That saw him provisionally suspended and stripped of his number ten shirt. Since then, he hasn’t kicked a ball in competitive action.
The investigation is ongoing without an end in sight. It will be no surprise to learn that Mudryk has not been idle. There are reports that the winger was recently focusing his remarkable speed on sprint training. That means, he may desire the bold ambition to compete for Ukraine’s Track & Field team at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
He ran with a speed over 36 km/h in his PL debut. Mudryk has always been an unusual player because of his raw and pure speed. Now, it might simply be a matter of him wanting to add on an entirely new career based off of that strength.
A drastic shift but not impossible
Switching from football to athletics isn’t a simple leap. Footballers have long played at the Olympics, but almost always within the game itself, not on the track. For Mudryk, this could mark a complete reinvention. The move may be surprising, but it makes sense. If he is not allowed to play football for a long period, chasing a medal on the biggest sporting stage might be the next best way to keep his career alive.
The question is whether he can turn raw pace into elite sprinting ability. Speed in football is explosive and short-burst, while Olympic sprinting demands perfect technique and relentless discipline. If Mudryk commits fully, the next time fans see him flying down a straight line might be in Los Angeles in 2028.
Author’s Opinion:
Mudryk’s decision shows both courage and desperation. Whether it’s the track or the pitch, he’s fighting to stay relevant. That alone deserves some respect.
