Three Gold Medals for Ukraine: Canoeists Luzan and Khmara Dominate Season Openers

Lyudmyla Luzan Shines at the European Canoe Sprint Championships

According to Главком: On the first day of finals at the 2026 European Canoe Sprint Championships, Lyudmyla Luzan captured two gold medals. For the first time in her career, she became European champion in the women’s C2 200-meter event, teaming up with Anastasiia Rybachok. The Ukrainian duo clocked 43.399 seconds in the final race, beating the silver medalists from Spain by 1.180 seconds and the bronze medalists from Poland by 1.515 seconds. This marks Luzan’s fourth overall medal at the European Championships, and her third gold.

By winning gold in the 200-meter sprint, Luzan and Rybachok made history as the first Ukrainian female canoeists ever to achieve this victory in a doubles event at a continental championship. Luzan still has two more finals ahead on Sunday, June 14: the individual 500-meter race and another 500-meter doubles event with Rybachok. The competition is being held in Montemor-o-Velho, Portugal.

Ihor Khmara Wins Gold at the World Rowing Cup

Meanwhile, Ihor Khmara claimed gold at the World Rowing Cup stage in Plovdiv-his first victory of the 2026 season. This medal also marked Ukraine’s first podium finish in the current World Cup season. Khmara triumphed in the men’s lightweight single sculls, finishing the distance in 6:57.16. He outpaced the runner-up, Firdavs Akhunov of Uzbekistan, by 9.71 seconds.

The achievements of Lyudmyla Luzan and Ihor Khmara highlight the strong preparation of Ukrainian rowers and the team’s ability to deliver impressive results on the international stage. These competitions in Portugal serve as a crucial step in their buildup to future global championships, and such strong performances can boost the athletes’ confidence ahead of upcoming events. Notably, these successes also help raise the profile of rowing in Ukraine and may inspire a new generation of athletes to take up the sport.

As Luzan continues to impress with her remarkable performance, it's worth exploring her journey to becoming a five-time European champion. Her recent victories not only demonstrate her exceptional talent but also underscore the significance of her contributions to Ukrainian sports. For a deeper look into her achievements, check out how she secured her fifth gold medal at the European Championships here.