Ukrainian Short Track Team Begins Final European Push Ahead of Milan-Cortina Olympics

2026 European Short Track Speed Skating Championships

According to НОК: The 2026 European Short Track Speed Skating Championships will be held in Tilburg, Netherlands, running from January 16th to January 18th, 2026. This event serves as a crucial competitive benchmark for the Ukrainian national team as they prepare for the XXV Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina. European championships are a key proving ground for athletes in the final year before the Olympics.

Ukrainian National Team Roster

The Ukrainian team will compete across all program disciplines: men's, women's, and mixed relays. The men's team competitors and their events are:

• Oleg Handei (500m, 1000m, 1500m)
• Rostyslav Leontenko (500m, 1000m)
• Tymofii Khokhelko (1500m)

The women's team representing Ukraine will be:

• Yelyzaveta Sydorko (500m, 1000m)
• Svitlana Repetska (1000m, 1500m)
• Myroslava Seliukova (1500m)

Competition coverage will be streamed live on the Skating ISU YouTube channel, allowing fans worldwide to follow the Ukrainian athletes' performances. The European Championships promise to be an exciting and pivotal event for competitors fine-tuning their form for the upcoming Olympic challenges.

For the Ukrainian squad, participation in this championship is a vital component of Olympic preparation, providing invaluable high-level international racing experience. A strong showing on the European stage could boost the athletes' confidence and momentum heading into Milan-Cortina. The availability of a global online broadcast will also enable widespread fan support, which can positively impact team morale and competitive results.