Ukraine's Women's Biathlon Team for the 2026 Olympics
Ukraine's national biathlon team has finalized its women's roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The five athletes selected to compete are:
- Khrystyna Dmytrenko
- Yuliia Dzhima
- Daryna Chalyk
- Olena Horodna
- Oleksandra Merkushyna
An additional biathlete will be chosen as a reserve following the European Championships. This announcement comes as Ukraine builds momentum across winter sports following the 2022 Games.
Recent Successes for Ukrainian Biathletes
In related news, Ukrainian junior biathlete Tetiana Tarasiuk secured a bronze medal at an IBU Junior Cup stage in Madona. She finished third in the 7.5 km sprint with a time of 24:02.0.
Furthermore, Ukraine placed 14th in the overall medal standings at the World University Summer Games, where its athletes won a total of 12 medals: 4 gold, 3 silver, and 5 bronze.
The biathletes named as potential reserves for the Olympic team are:
- Anastasiia Merkushyna
- Valeriia Dmytrenko
- Liliia Steblyna
Other notable performances in the sprint race included:
- Polina Putsko - 7th place
- Viktoriia Khvostenko - 8th place
- Kseniia Prykhodko - 10th place
'The five biathletes I named [to the core team] are going to the Olympics,' emphasized head coach Mykola Zots.
The selection of the women's team for the 2026 Olympics highlights Ukraine's active preparation for major international competitions. The recent success of junior athletes, like Tarasiuk's bronze, points to a promising future for the nation's young talent. The country's overall performance at the World University Games also reflects a broader development in Ukrainian sports as it gears up for upcoming global events.