Ukraine Secures Top-Ten Finish at 2026 Winter Paralympics with 19 Medals

Ukraine's Team at the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games

According to Главком: Competing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Team Ukraine delivered a powerful performance, securing a total of 19 medals and earning a place among the world's top ten nations. The team's final tally consisted of 3 gold, 8 silver, and 8 bronze medals. The vast majority of these medals, 16 in total, were won in the sport of para biathlon, with the remaining 3 coming from para cross-country skiing events.

Standout Ukrainian Athletes

Oleksandra Kononova emerged as the most decorated athlete of the Ukrainian contingent, winning an impressive five medals. Taras Rad followed closely as the team's second-highest multi-medalist with four awards. Oleksandr Kazik, guided by Serhii Kucheriavyi, claimed three medals, while Liudmyla Liashenko and Anatolii Kovalevskyi, guided by Oleksandr Mukshyn, each secured two. This collective success highlights the depth of talent within the Ukrainian squad.

The team's most successful day was March 7th, when Ukrainian athletes won six medals, three of which were gold. They matched this six-medal haul again on March 13th, demonstrating remarkable consistency. In the final day of competition, the team added two more medals to its total, solidifying its high-ranking finish and showcasing the athletes' resilience and skill.

Notable gold medal performances included Taras Rad in the vision-impaired sprint (para biathlon), Oleksandra Kononova in the standing sprint (para biathlon), and Oleksandr Kazik with guide Serhii Kucheriavyi. The team also earned a silver medal in the sprint pursuit relay, featuring excellent performances by Taras Rad, Hryhorii Vovchynskyi, Oleksandr Kazik (guided by Serhii Kucheriavyi), Iryna Bui, Yaroslav Reshetynskyi (guided by Dmytro Drahun), and Maksym Murashkovskyi (guided by Vitalii Trush).

• Gold Medals:
  • Taras Rad – Sprint (Para Biathlon)
  • Oleksandra Kononova – Standing Sprint (Para Biathlon)
  • Oleksandr Kazik with guide Serhii Kucheriavyi
• Silver Medals:
  • Sprint Pursuit Relay featuring Taras Rad, Hryhorii Vovchynskyi, and others
• Bronze Medals:
  • Anatolii Kovalevskyi – Sprint Pursuit
  • Oleksandra Kononova – Sprint Pursuit

Overall, Ukraine's campaign at the 2026 Winter Paralympics served as a brilliant testament to athletic excellence and national team spirit.

Ukraine's success at these Winter Paralympics underscores the nation's significant advancement in Paralympic sports, providing powerful motivation for aspiring athletes. Winning 19 medals and breaking into the global top ten reflects a high standard of training and support for athletes with disabilities in Ukraine. These achievements are likely to boost the profile of the Paralympic movement and help attract new sporting talent.