Ukrainian Biathlete Khrystyna Dmytrenko Describes Olympic Final Lap as 'Pure Horror'

Khrystyna Dmytrenko's Performance at the 2026 Olympic Games

According to НОК: Ukrainian biathlete Khrystyna Dmytrenko, making her Olympic debut at the 2026 Games, finished 54th in the sprint event. She cited a severe physical collapse on the final lap as a key factor in her result, finishing 2 minutes and 23.8 seconds behind the winner. Dmytrenko also suggested that an illness she suffered prior to the Olympics may have played a role in her performance. Biathlon combines cross-country skiing with rifle marksmanship, making endurance crucial.

“It's hard to say anything definitive because the last lap ruined everything. I felt fine during the race, but the final lap was pure horror. My legs gave out completely. I was just gritting my teeth and pushing through. I started really well and felt fantastic, thinking today could be a good day. Then I just fell apart,”

- Khrystyna Dmytrenko

She elaborated that despite feeling generally good, her body reacted sharply to the exertion in the closing stages. “I think this could be a consequence of the illness I had before the Olympics. I feel more or less okay, and then suddenly I'm completely spent on the last laps,” the athlete added.

Dmytrenko noted that her pre-illness training form had been strong, making the Olympic outcome particularly disappointing. “Before I got sick, I was performing excellently in my interval training sessions; everything felt great. That's why it's so frustrating that my body is reacting like this now,” she stated.

Support from Fellow Athletes

Separately, Khrystyna Dmytrenko and other Ukrainian athletes have backed an initiative by skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych. “The girls and I decided together to support Vladyslav. I think it's very important for our voices to be heard too. We can also contribute our small drop of support,” Dmytrenko concluded.

Despite the disappointing result, Dmytrenko's appearance at the 2026 Olympics marks a significant career milestone. The illness she endured impacted her preparation, which likely affected her performance. The support from her fellow athletes underscores the solidarity and unity among Ukrainian competitors during challenging times, which may provide additional motivation for Dmytrenko in her future training.