Outstanding Performance by Ukraine’s National Sambo Team at the European Championships
Ukraine’s sambo team achieved remarkable success at the European Championships held in Georgia, bringing home 12 medals. The country secured an impressive second place in the overall medal standings, highlighting the high level of training among its athletes.
Among the most notable accomplishments were two gold medals, won by:
- Vasyl Ivoniak in the under 79 kg weight class;
- Petro Davydenko in the under 88 kg category.
For Petro Davydenko, this marks his third European gold, underscoring his consistency and skill. Additionally, Yehor Leonov earned a silver medal in the over 98 kg weight class. Bronze medals in combat sambo went to:
- Vladyslav Kyryliuk (under 58 kg);
- Pavlo Napalkov (under 71 kg);
- Yevhen Makarov (under 98 kg).
Ukrainian Athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics
In sport sambo, Ukraine also saw strong performances. Snizhana Plish (under 54 kg), Halyna Kovalska (under 80 kg), and Roman Trush (under 71 kg) all became vice-champions. Bronze medalists in sport sambo—Diana Tulunzhy (under 65 kg), Valeriia Kanikovska (under 72 kg), and Anastasiia Komovych (over 80 kg)—also delivered excellent results.
Unfortunately, Ukraine’s team did not secure any medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, but they reached the top ten in eight events. For instance, sixth-place finishes in freestyle skiing and ski aerials were achieved by:
- Anhelina Brykina;
- Oleksandr Okipniuk;
- Dmytro Kotovskyi.
Another luge team, consisting of:
- Yulianna Tunytska;
- Ihor Hoi;
- Nazarii Kachmar;
- Andrii Mandzii;
- Oleksandra Mokh;
- Olena Stetskiv.
also placed sixth in the relay event.
Furthermore, Ukrainian athletes achieved:
- Seventh place in the women’s doubles luge (Oleksandra Mokh and Olena Stetskiv);
- Eighth place in the mixed biathlon relay (Dmytro Pidruchnyi, Vitalii Mandzyn, Olena Horodna, Oleksandra Merkushyna);
- Ninth place in the women’s biathlon relay (Oleksandra Merkushyna, Yuliia Dzhima, Khrystyna Dmytrenko, Daryna Chalyk);
- Tenth place in big air (Kateryna Kotsar);
- Oleksandr Okipniuk in ski aerials;
- Vitalii Mandzyn in the biathlon mass start.
Thus, despite some setbacks at the Olympics, Ukrainian athletes continue to impress on the international stage.
The results of Ukraine’s national sambo team at the European Championships underscore the athletes’ high level of preparation and their ability to compete globally. This achievement sends a strong signal for the development of sambo in Ukraine and for supporting young talent in the sport. Although the Winter Olympics brought some disappointments, Ukrainian athletes keep demonstrating their skills and reaching new heights, pointing to strong potential and promising prospects for future competitions.
In addition to the recent triumphs in sambo, Ukraine's athletes are also making headlines in wrestling. At the 2026 European Championships, the national team showcased their strength with three bronze medals and four female wrestlers advancing to the finals. These achievements highlight the depth of talent within Ukrainian sports. To learn more about their performance and how it compares to the sambo team's success, read our detailed coverage here.