Ukrainian Wrestler Filchakov Secures Bronze at 2026 European Championships, Topping World Champion

Yaroslav Filchakov at the 2026 European Championships

According to Главком: Competing in Tirana, Albania, Ukrainian Greco-Roman wrestler Yaroslav Filchakov claimed a bronze medal at the 2026 European Championships. In the under-87 kg weight class, he delivered a standout performance by defeating 2019 world champion Lasha Gobadze. However, his run was halted in the semifinals by Olympic medalist Turpal Bisultanov of Denmark. In the bronze medal match, Filchakov edged out neutral athlete Igor Yaroshevich on tie-breaking criteria.

Ukraine’s Overall Team Results

Ukraine’s national team collected three bronze medals in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2026 European Championships. Alongside Filchakov, the other bronze medalists were:

• Vladlen Kozliuk in the 97 kg category;
• Mykhailo Vyshnyvetskyi in the 130 kg category.

Kozliuk’s third-place finish marked his second European bronze medal of his career.

Reflecting on his performance, Yaroslav Filchakov said: 'This is my first medal in this weight class, 87 kilograms. My goal was to win this European Championship, but I am satisfied with the bronze. There is plenty to work on, so I will analyze my mistakes and move forward.'

He also emphasized that his aim is to defeat every opponent, regardless of the country they represent.

Filchakov admitted he should not have lost to the Danish wrestler in the semifinals but vowed to learn from the experience and beat him next time. 'We’ll analyze the errors and keep working. Our next target is the World Championships, set for this autumn in Bahrain. The mission remains the same as for every competition: step onto the mat for each match and give it everything,' the wrestler added.

Overall, the performance of Ukrainian wrestlers at the European Championships in Tirana underscores their high level of preparation and readiness for upcoming events.

These achievements highlight the growing strength of Ukrainian wrestling on the international stage, particularly in the Greco-Roman discipline. The bronze medals earned by Filchakov, Kozliuk, and Vyshnyvetskyi reflect the rising competitiveness of Ukrainian athletes in this sport, which bodes well for their preparations ahead of the World Championships, where they aim to prove their skill on a global platform.

Filchakov's achievement adds to the growing list of accolades for Ukrainian wrestlers this season. In fact, the recent championships saw the team secure a total of three bronze medals, highlighting the depth of talent within the squad. To learn more about the other athletes who reached the podium and their remarkable performances, check out our article on Ukraine's successes at the European Wrestling Championships.