Three Gold Medals for Ukrainian Women on First Day of European Wrestling Championships: Meet the Champions

European Women's Wrestling Championships Finals

According to Главком: Ukrainian female wrestlers have kicked off the European Championships in Tirana, Albania, with an impressive haul of three gold medals and one silver on the first day of finals. The tournament runs from April 20 to 26, 2026, and Ukraine's overall medal count already stands at seven: four from women's wrestling and three from Greco-Roman competition.

Ukrainian Champions Shine on the Mat

The gold medalists are:

• Oksana Livach in the 50 kg weight class
• Mariia Vynnyk in the 59 kg category
• Anastasiia Alpieieva in the 76 kg division

Liliia Malanchuk secured a silver medal in the 55 kg category. These results highlight the strong level of preparation among Ukraine's female wrestlers on the international stage.

On April 24, 2026, three more Ukrainian women will compete in gold medal finals, along with one bronze medal bout. Among them is 19-year-old Mariia Yefremova from Bakhmut, who will wrestle in the 53 kg category. In qualifying, Yefremova defeated Russia's Natalia Malysheva, then beat Spain's Carla Jaume Soler in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, she overcame Belarusian Vanesa Kaladzinskaya, a two-time world champion and Olympic bronze medalist.

On April 24, Mariia Yefremova will face 34-year-old Greek wrestler Maria Prevolaraki in the final. This competition marks a major milestone in the young Ukrainian athlete's career and underscores the growing strength of Ukrainian wrestling on the world stage.

The success of Ukraine's female wrestlers at the European Championships reflects the country's significant progress in the sport, which could help boost wrestling's popularity back home. These championships also serve as a key stepping stone toward future international tournaments, where Ukrainian athletes aim to confirm their ambitions at the highest level.

As Ukrainian female wrestlers continue to excel at the European Championships, their achievements resonate with the recent success of other Ukrainian athletes in different sports. For instance, the Ukrainian women's weightlifting team secured eight medals in the opening days of their competition, showcasing the country's growing prowess in sports on the international stage.