Gold and Glory: Highlights from the 2024 Paris Olympics for Team Ukraine

Ukrainian athletes are returning home with 3 gold, 5 silver, and 4 bronze medals—this is Ukraine’s best result in the last 12 years at the Olympic Games.

Gold Medals

Yaroslava Mahuchikh won the gold medal in the high jump, clearing a height of 2.04 meters. Her victory in Paris culminated a successful season, including a record-setting achievement at the Diamond League in July 2024. Mahuchikh, who won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, demonstrated exceptional skill and confidence, achieving her dream in Paris.

Oleksandr Khyzhniak also brought home a gold medal in boxing in the 80 kg weight class, defeating Kazakh boxer Nurbek Oralbay in the final. For Khyzhniak, this is his second Olympic medal following a silver at the Tokyo 2020 Games. His victory in Paris is the result of intensive training and a successful comeback after a series of international achievements.

Olha Kharlan became the first Ukrainian fencer to win gold at the Olympics in women’s sabre, leading her team to victory and securing Ukraine’s first gold in fencing at these Games.

Silver Medals

Iryna Koliadenko won a silver medal in women’s freestyle wrestling in the 62 kg category. She successfully progressed through the semifinals, defeating Aisulu Tynybekova from Kyrgyzstan. In the final, she was edged out by Japanese wrestler Sakurai Motoki, but her achievement was a significant moment for Ukrainian sport.

Parviz Nasibov earned silver in Greco-Roman wrestling in the 67 kg category, losing to Iranian wrestler Said Esmaeili Leyvasi. Nasibov, who previously won bronze at the World Championships, showcased strong form and a commendable performance in his quest for Olympic medals.

Ilya Kovtun became a silver medalist in the parallel bars event, showing excellent results amidst strong competition. Kovtun, who was previously fourth in the all-around and rings, achieved notable success in this Olympic event.

Bronze Medals

Zhan Beleniuk won the bronze medal in Greco-Roman wrestling in the 87 kg category, defeating Polish wrestler Arkadiusz Kułynycz. Beleniuk, the Tokyo Olympics champion, demonstrated resilience and skill in his discipline, finishing the Games on the podium.

Lyudmila Lukyan and Anastasia Rybachok secured bronze in the canoe double at the 500 meters distance. This medal was a significant achievement for Ukrainian canoeing, highlighting their high level of preparation and teamwork.

Mykhailo Kohan earned a bronze medal in the hammer throw with a best attempt of 79.39 meters, marking a significant achievement for the Ukrainian track and field athlete.

Iryna Herashchenko also won a bronze medal in the high jump, finishing the competition at a high level.

Additional Facts

1. Olha Kharlan became the first Ukrainian fencer to win gold at the Olympics in women’s saber, with her team securing Ukraine’s first gold in fencing at these Games.

2. Marina Bech-Romanchuk and Dmytro Pidruchnyi also represented Ukraine in athletics and biathlon respectively, with their participation being a significant part of the country’s Olympic presence.

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Russian Campaign to Disrupt the Olympics

A particular focus at the 2024 Olympics was the controversy surrounding Algerian boxer Imane Khelif. The situation escalated after the International Boxing Association (IBA), led by Russian national Umar Kremlev, made claims that Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting were allegedly transgender. These accusations were part of a broader strategy aimed at undermining Olympic standards and discrediting the Games.

The fabricated allegations against Khelif and Lin, which surfaced after their victories, became the subject of international condemnation. The IOC condemned these actions as politically motivated attempts to undermine the Olympics and create tensions. Russian disinformation used to stir controversy was soon debunked.

Russian campaign to disrupt the global sporting event also included alleged large-scale sabotage. In one such public instance, a Russian FSB agent, posing as a chef, was identified by the French authorities as one of the executors of the larger sabotage plan.

The Paris 2024 Olympics showcased outstanding sports achievements and memorable moments. Ukraine demonstrated high levels of preparation and athletic skill, achieving significant results on the global stage. Despite political and sporting controversies, Ukraine concluded the Games with impressive results, reaffirming its strength and resilience in international competitions.