Tim Tszyu’s mother has opened up on how her decision to leave Russia for Australia saved her boxing sons from fighting in the war in Ukraine.
Natalia Tszyu moved to Australia from Russia with former world champion Kostya Tszyu in 1992 and the pair shared three children: Anastasia, Tim and Nikita.
However, when their marriage broke down in 2008, Natalia was forced to decide whether to return to her homeland with her three children or begin a new life Down Under as a single mother.
‘If I had stayed in Russia after my marriage broke down my boys would not be boxing now, they would be fighting in a war,’ Natalia told Sydney Weekend.
‘Moving back home to Russia (in 2008) wasn’t a smart decision. It was an emotional decision to go home when I got divorced but six months later I came back [to Australia] with my three children.
‘Sometimes we can decide in survival mode, but still, then we must follow our instinct. For me, the smart decision was coming back.’Â
Rather than serving on the frontline in Ukraine, Tim and Nikita are pursuing electrifying careers in the ring, with elder brother Tim on the brink of fighting for a world title.
‘That decision to leave changed everything,’ Natalia added.
‘We had lived a celebrity lifestyle in Russia with Kostya and we became normal people here. We left a big, massive home, Nikita wanted a Bentley because in Russia his father had one in the garage.
‘We sold everything, we were used to a four-level mansion and here we were in a townhouse in Drummoyne sleeping on top of each other. But it was enjoyable, we shared so much, and we were building up our family.’Â Â
Reflecting on the war, Natalia said that ‘we are fighting against our own people.’
‘Putin started this war, Russia is shocked, normal people are depressed, but we cannot say anything bad about the President,’ she said.
‘I’m a mother. I’m praying for kids, for men who have to get their guns and go to the war, we never thought this would happen.
‘Life is just so different over there. It’s unbelievable how the people in Russia and the Ukraine are surviving. They know how to survive.
‘What I want to say to all Australian people, is we are so lucky to live in Australia, we live in the best country, I have twin citizenship – but I can’t wait to get back to Russia to visit my family.’
