Ukrainian Karate Athletes Shine on the International Stage
Young Ukrainian karate competitors Oleksandra Gulavska and Illia Hrynenko claimed gold medals at the second round of the Karate 1 WKF Serie A, held in La Coruña, Spain. Both debutants showcased exceptional skill on the global stage. The tournament brought together 1,270 athletes from 83 nations, with Ukraine represented by 39 karatekas.
Victories for Ukrainian Fighters
Oleksandra Gulavska, 19, competing in the -55 kg weight category, fought through six matches. In the final, she defeated Egypt’s Menatalan Elgawary with a score of 1:0. This victory marks her first major success at the senior level. With this win, she became the tenth Ukrainian female karateka to claim a Serie A stage title. Gulavska represents the Leader club in Chernivtsi and began her career in Zhytomyr.
Illia Hrynenko, an 18-year-old from Odesa competing in the -67 kg division, followed a similarly intense path to gold. In the final, he beat Japan’s Taiki Kataoka with a 4:4 decision, securing victory through a senshu ruling. This achievement makes Hrynenko the eleventh Ukrainian karateka to win a Serie A stage.
Hlib Lomovatskyi from Chernivtsi came just one step short of a medal in the -60 kg weight category, losing the bronze final to Portugal’s Gustavo Oliveira with a score of 0:3. Notably, at the first Serie A stage of 2026 in Tbilisi, Ukrainian athletes also performed strongly, earning 2 silver and 2 bronze medals. The third Serie A stage is scheduled for July 16–20 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
This success underscores the rising strength of Ukrainian karate on the world stage. The achievements of young athletes like Gulavska and Hrynenko highlight the effectiveness of training and the development of a new generation of competitors in Ukraine. Their participation in upcoming Serie A stages will be crucial for further solidifying Ukraine’s position in global karate.
The success of Ukrainian karate athletes at the Serie A stage in Spain is part of a broader trend of excellence in combat sports. Recently, the Ukrainian national team also showcased their talent at the 2026 European Championships, where they secured multiple medals, including three bronze. This further highlights the growing prowess of Ukrainian competitors on the international stage. For more details on their achievements, you can read about the wrestling team's performance here.