Ukrainian Wrestler Iryna Koliadenko Secures Fourth European Championship Gold with a Dominant Shutout Against a Russian Opponent

Iryna Koliadenko Claims Gold Once Again

According to Главком: Ukrainian wrestler Iryna Koliadenko has captured her fourth European Championship gold medal at the 2026 tournament held in Tirana. This latest victory adds to her impressive collection of continental titles. In the final, she showcased exceptional skill by defeating neutral world vice-champion Alina Kasabieva, a Russian athlete, with a decisive 9:0 score. Notably, Koliadenko achieved this gold without conceding a single point throughout the match.

Ukraine’s Women’s Team Shines Bright

Collectively, the Ukrainian women’s wrestling team also made a powerful statement at this championship by winning the team standings. The athletes secured 8 out of a possible 10 medals:

• 6 gold
• 1 silver
• 1 bronze

Joining Iryna Koliadenko in gold medal victories were Oksana Livach, Maria Vynnyk, Anastasiia Alpieieva, Maria Yefremova, and Nadiia Sokolovska. Liliia Malanchuk earned the silver medal, while Solomiia Vynnyk took home the bronze.

“This is already my second European Championship where I won gold without losing a single point.”

Iryna Koliadenko

She also highlighted the significance of the moment: 'It is also very pleasant to stand on the podium and force Russian athletes to listen to the Ukrainian national anthem.' Koliadenko noted that during the competition, there was an opportunity to injure her opponent, but the referee prevented it: 'At one point, I could have broken the shoulder of the Russian athlete, but unfortunately, the referee did not allow me to do that.'

The athlete emphasized that her team was focused on winning: 'My coach and I did a great job, so I came to the European Championship to win, and we won.' She also added: 'I’m used to solving problems as they come.'

Overall, the performance of the Ukrainian women’s team at the 2026 European Championship was a landmark achievement, reaffirming the high level of training and success of Ukrainian sports on the international stage. Iryna Koliadenko’s victory, along with her team’s accomplishments, not only highlights athletic excellence but also underscores the resilience and unity of Ukrainian athletes during a challenging time for the country.

This remarkable achievement follows Ukraine's impressive performance at the previous European Championship, where the women's wrestling team secured a significant number of medals, showcasing their dominance in the sport. To learn more about how the team triumphed in Euro 2025, read about their success in their medal haul.