Kyiv marathon will shun starting pistol to protect ex-soldiers from PTSD

Thousands of disabled participants to take part, including those who sustained life-changing injuries in the war with Russia

The Kyiv Marathon will on Sunday shun the traditional starter’s pistol to protect veterans from PTSD triggers.
The event’s organisers decided to replace the customary sound of a gun shot with a less-triggering sound after carrying out a scientific study on ex-servicemen.
It has been billed as Ukraine’s “first barrier-free marathon” and is expected to attract thousands of disabled participants, included men and women with life-changing injuries sustained fighting against the Russian invasion.
“We have been organising marathons for nine years and firmly believe that there is no place for gunshots or pistols at running events in any form,” said Olena Plakhova, of Nova Post, the team behind ‘Start without a Shot’.
“We were eager to integrate Ukrainian motifs into the sound, while keeping it modern, conveying a sense of unity to the runners, and avoiding any traumatic associations.”
The sound resembles that of the countdown of beeps used to start Formula One races, rather than a single gunshot.
Sound designers also modelled the gentler tone on a plane hurtling down the runway to take off or the countdown of a clock before New Year.
The Ukrainian team worked alongside psychologists who treated victims of the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 for mental trauma.
Veterans diagnosed with PTSD were tested for their neurological response against the traditional starter’s pistol and the new sound.
Ukraine is facing a wider mental health crisis, with soldiers and civilians impacted by Russia’s full-scale invasion, which is entering its 32nd month.
Its health ministry recently said the number of people diagnosed with mental health complaints this year had doubled since 2023.
Market research has shown that the sale of antidepressants has soared by 50 per cent in the last three years.
A study published by the Lancet medical journal claimed that some 54 per cent of Ukrainians, including the millions of refugees who fled the country, have exhibited signs of PTSD.
But the team behind “start without a shot” believe their project will benefit runners well beyond Ukraine’s borders.
They are in talks to introduce the starting sound to marathons in Poland and the United States, with Kyiv’s foreign ministry championing their work.
“We are now in talks with marathon organisers in Europe and America, aiming to involve them in spreading the tradition of this new signal. Perhaps soon, the new ‘Start without a Shot’ will mark the beginning of races at major marathons,” Ms Plakhova said.