Training Session Recap: Ukraine's Athletes on February 5, 2026
On February 5, 2026, Ukrainian athletes participated in official training sessions for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. The team showcased its preparations in ski jumping, luge, and alpine skiing. Notably, while women's hockey and snowboard big air were added to the Olympic program, Ukraine did not qualify athletes for these new events. The Winter Olympics present a significant global stage for nations to compete in both classic and emerging winter sports.
Performance Details for Team Ukraine
In ski jumping, Ukraine was represented by Yevhen Marusiak and Vitalii Kalinichenko on the normal hill (K107). Yevhen Marusiak's best attempt was a 95-meter jump, earning him 27th place in the second round; his other jumps placed 29th, 29th, and 32nd. Vitalii Kalinichenko's top finish was 37th, with his other attempts placing 38th and 40th.
In luge, Anton Dukach, Andrii Mandzii, Yulianna Tunytska, and Olena Smaha competed for Ukraine. Anton Dukach's best run was 13th in the fourth heat, with a 19th place in the third. Andrii Mandzii finished 20th in the third heat, just two-tenths of a second behind Dukach, and improved to 18th in the fourth heat, within eight-tenths of a second of the leader. Yulianna Tunytska had the second-best start time among all athletes, finishing 18th in the first training run and 15th in the second. Olena Smaha achieved two fourth-best start times, including a 16th place finish in the first session.
Alpine skier Dmytro Shepiiuk began the second downhill training run in 42nd place but managed to finish within the top 40. Three Italian skiers occupied the top three positions in the speed training, while Marco Odermatt placed 23rd in the second session.
The first official competitions of the 2026 Games began on February 4, featuring curling events and training for alpine skiers and lugers. The Ukrainian team continues to fine-tune its preparations through these sessions ahead of the main medal events.
The training performances of Ukrainian athletes at the 2026 Olympics indicate measurable progress compared to previous competitions. While the team lacks representation in some new disciplines, the athletes demonstrated competitive results in traditional Olympic sports.
Source: Olympic Committee of Ukraine
With the Games still in their early stages, the Ukrainian team has the opportunity to improve its standings in the upcoming main events scheduled for the following days.