Winterberg 2025: Final Qualification Round for Ukrainian Luge Athletes for the 2026 Olympics

Fifth Stage of the Luge World Cup in Winterberg

According to НОК: The fifth stage of the Luge World Cup will take place in Winterberg, Germany, which is crucial for qualifying for the 2026 Olympics in Milan-Cortina. The final qualification round will take place on January 10-11, during which Ukrainian luge athletes will have the opportunity to earn licenses to participate in the Olympic Games.

Qualification Licenses and the Composition of the Ukrainian Team

During this stage, 106 Olympic licenses will be distributed: 59 for men and 47 for women. The qualification window for obtaining licenses closes on January 12, emphasizing the importance of this competition for the athletes.

The composition of the Ukrainian team for the final qualification round includes the following athletes:

• Anton Duvkach
• Andriy Mandzii
• Yulianna Tunitska
• Olena Smaga
• Olena Stetskiv
• Oleksandra Mokh
• Nazarii Kachmar
• Ihor Hoy
• Maxym Panchuk
• Andriy Muts
• Danyil Martynovskyi
• Bohdan Babura

The schedule for January 10 includes runs for both women and men: the first run for women in singles sleds will start at 12:50, the second run for women at 14:10, the first run for men at 15:25, and the second run for men at 16:50. The competition will continue on January 11: at 10:00 – the first run for women in doubles sleds, at 10:50 – the second run for women, at 12:00 – the first run for men in doubles sleds, at 13:15 – the second run for men, and at 14:50 – the relay.

This stage will be a decisive moment for Ukrainian luge athletes in their fight for Olympic licenses.

The competition in Winterberg will significantly impact the chances of Ukrainian luge athletes to qualify for the Olympic Games, as the results shown in this competition will be crucial for forming the Olympic team. Since the qualification period ends on January 12, the participation and results of the athletes at this stage gain particular relevance, as the competition for licenses will be extremely high.