Ukraine Claims First Junior Biathlon Gold in Six Years and Names 2026 Olympic Team

Ukraine Secures Gold at the Junior European Biathlon Championships

According to Главком: On January 22, 2026, in Imatra, Finland, Ukraine won the gold medal in the single mixed relay at the Junior European Biathlon Championships. This victory marks the country's first junior European biathlon title in six years. The winning team consisted of siblings Taras and Tetiana Tarasiuk, who delivered a masterful performance. This gold was Ukraine's second medal of the day at the championships.

The Ukrainian relay team finished with a time of 37:29.1, narrowly beating Switzerland by 3.3 seconds for the silver medal. Latvia took the bronze, finishing 17.9 seconds behind the winners. This success in the junior ranks is a positive sign for the future of Ukrainian biathlon.

Ukraine's Women's Biathlon Team for the 2026 Olympics

In related news, the Ukrainian Biathlon Federation has announced the five athletes selected for the women's team at the 2026 Winter Olympics:

• Khrystyna Dmytrenko
• Yuliia Dzhima
• Daryna Chalyk
• Olena Horodna
• Oleksandra Merkushyna

A sixth athlete will be chosen as a reserve based on performances at the upcoming European Championships. Three biathletes are in contention for that alternate spot:

• Anastasiia Merkushyna
• Valeriia Dmytrenko
• Liliia Steblyna

The final decision on the reserve athlete will be made after the European Championship concludes. The announcement of the Olympic roster, coupled with the junior team's success, highlights a period of strategic planning and rising talent within Ukrainian biathlon.