Ukraine’s Participation in the 2026 World Athletics Relay Championships
Ukraine’s national athletics team is set to compete in the 2026 World Athletics Relay Championships, scheduled to take place in Botswana. The squad is making a comeback after skipping the previous edition in Guangzhou, marking a one-year break from this global event. At this tournament, Ukraine will only field a team in the mixed 4x100-meter relay, with six athletes selected: three men and three women.
Team Roster
Who will represent Ukraine? Men:
- Davyd Kulakovskyi
- Illia Popov
- Oleksandr Sokolov
Women:
- Diana Honcharenko
- Anna Karandukova
- Danyila Khavan
This quartet—featuring Illia Popov, Diana Honcharenko, Oleksandr Sokolov, and Danyila Khavan—holds the national record in the mixed 4x100m relay, clocking 41.90 seconds at a meet in Lublin. That performance earned Ukraine a qualifying spot for the world championships.
Notably, at the Ukrainian Indoor Championships, Kulakovskyi claimed the 200-meter title, while Karandukova finished third with a time of 25.20 seconds. Diana Honcharenko also impressed by winning the Ukrainian U23 Championships in June 2025 and setting a personal best of 11.40 seconds in the 100 meters—the fastest time recorded by a Ukrainian female sprinter in that event over the past seven years.
Overall, Ukraine’s participation in the World Relay Championships promises to be compelling, as the team has already demonstrated strong results on the international stage.
Ukraine’s return to the World Athletics Relay Championships in Botswana in 2026 represents a significant step in resuming competitive activity after a pause. Given the athletes’ achievements at the national level, the team has every chance of a successful performance, which could bolster the image of Ukrainian sports on the global stage. The high-level results these athletes have posted indicate their readiness for competition, laying a foundation for future successes.
As Ukraine's relay team prepares for the upcoming championships, it’s worth noting the country’s recent achievements in other sports, such as wrestling. At the 2026 European Championships, Ukrainian athletes secured three bronze medals, showcasing the nation’s strength in various athletic disciplines. This momentum could play a crucial role in boosting the morale of the relay team as they aim for success in Botswana.