KIEV -- In some countries, winning Olympic gold medals serves to underline the nation's sporting pride and ability. In Ukraine, winning an Olympic gold helps to underline the country's very existence.


Thus, when Oksana Baiul stood on the gold medal rostrum at last week's Lillehammer Winter Olympic games to collect Ukraine's first gold medal, everyone from president to peasant in Ukraine was willing to celebrate.


"It is a little piece of luck in contrast with the miserable time we have today," said Maria Dekunenko, 55. "Maybe one small detail will help to form a more positive image of Ukraine in the world. I am not a big fan of sports, but I watched her victory with pleasure."


Newspapers led yesterday with pictures of Baiul clutching a bouquet on the podium. "Thank you, Oksana," read the lead story in the Government Courier.


"Now we have a little star to admire," "a golden drop" and "a little pearl" were just some of the expressions used by another government newspaper, the Voice of Ukraine, describing her victory.


"Her success has nothing to do with our young state. She is just a very talented girl," said Leonid Mostitsky, a guard in a kiosk. "If it wasn't for her, we wouldn't have a gold medal at all."


Baiul's victory was made more poignant because her participation in the finals was in doubt after her clash in the practice round with a German skater. She was given pain-killing injections before the last round and collapsed into tears of joy after her performance.


Ukraine's other gold medal chance, men's figure skater Viktor Petrenko, finished fourth in the men's figure skating competition.. "It is a pity that Petrenko wasn't luckier. The judges were not objective about him. It is not politics, it is just they wanted an American to become champion," said student Helena Skortova, although no American finished as high as Petrenko .


Others said Baiul's gold medal was a boost for Ukraine's independence.


"It is a victory for Ukrainian sports. It proves people wrong who say that we can't win without having a single Soviet team. Before, our best sportsmen were taken by Moscow," said Andrew Soroka, a pensioner, 62.


"Let's hope she won't go West. Somebody has got to represent our state," said Soroka.


Even President Leonid Kravchuk, at a press conference yesterday, paid tribute to the young skater. "I watched it not only with pleasure for her performance, but because it was Ukraine's first gold medal. We are becoming one of the world's countries," he said. "It is especially important that we are represented by such a young and beautiful girl."