Top 10 Ukrainian Athletes
Ukraine boasts numerous strong athletes across various sports disciplines, both team and individual. They consistently achieve victories in high-level international competitions. Following the Russian invasion, many actively engaged in aiding the country and resisting Russian aggression. In this feature, we'll highlight ten of them.
It's important to note that this isn't a strict top-ten ranking. The selection considers not only the athletes' achievements but also their prospects (if their careers are ongoing) and their socio-political involvement. In the face of Ukraine's struggle against Russian intrusion, this involvement holds extraordinary significance.
Yaroslava Mahuchikh, High Jump
At 22, high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh is currently one of Ukraine's most promising track and field athletes. She secured a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics with a 2-meter jump. In 2022, she became the indoor world champion, clearing a height of 2.02 meters, and in 2023, she clinched the world championship title with a result of 2.01 meters. Over the past two years, Mahuchikh won eight Diamond League stages, consistently jumping over 2 meters. Hence, ahead of the 2024 Olympics in Paris, the Ukrainian athlete appears as one of the main favorites to win the gold medal.
Following the onset of the Russian invasion, Yaroslava Mahuchikh supported the exclusion of Russian athletes from international competitions. She particularly highlighted that Russian athletes must understand that Russia initiated the war and is the aggressor, emphasizing the substantial support among Russians for this war and its ongoing endorsement.
Stanislav Medvedenko, Basketball
A product of the Kyiv-based club "Budivelnyk," Stanislav Medvedenko concluded his professional playing career quite early, at the age of 28. However, his achievements in basketball, notably winning the NBA championship twice, stand as exceptional accomplishments for Ukraine, which has never been a dominant basketball country.
Medvedenko made his mark playing for one of basketball's most formidable teams in history - the Los Angeles Lakers, where he, alongside the legendary Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, secured two victories in the world's strongest league.
Following his player career, Medvedenko established a youth basketball academy in Kyiv, coached the youth teams of "Budivelnyk," and the Ukrainian youth national teams. After the Russian invasion, he actively contributed to organizing the defense of the capital and served as a prominent figure for Ukrainian basketball in the United States. Establishing a charitable foundation, he auctioned both of his NBA championship rings, raising nearly a quarter of a million dollars to aid children affected by the war.
Olga Kharlan, Fencing
Olga Kharlan stands as the best in Ukraine and among the world's strongest fencers. The only thing missing from her career is an individual Olympic gold, a prize she'll undoubtedly contend for in Paris in 2024.
Throughout her sports journey, Olga Kharlan has clinched four Olympic medals (including gold in team events), 15 World Championship medals, and 20 European Championship medals—a record among Ukrainian fencers. Kharlan has also secured victories in the European Games and Universiade and has emerged victorious in the overall World Cup standings five times. Recognized four times as the Ukrainian National Olympic Committee's best athlete of the year, she stands among the top performers in Ukrainian sports.
Kharlan became the first Ukrainian woman to have a Barbie doll dedicated to her in 2020—a fencing-themed doll. Initially gifted the prototype by the toy manufacturers, she auctioned it in 2023 to raise funds for a clinic rehabilitating Ukrainian military personnel.
Olexandr Abramenko, Freestyle Skiing
Ukraine has never been renowned for strong performances in winter sports, except perhaps in biathlon and freestyle skiing. Hence, Olexandr Abramenko confidently holds the title of one of the best Ukrainian athletes in winter sports. He emerged as the star of the Ukrainian team in the last two Winter Olympics: winning a gold medal in freestyle skiing in 2018 and a silver in 2022. Both times, these were the only medals for the Ukrainian team at the competitions. This success made the 33-year-old athlete the most decorated male Olympian in the history of Ukrainian winter sports since independence.
Following the full-scale Russian invasion, in April 2022, Olexandr Abramenko, along with friends, established a platform to support volunteers from Mykolaiv.
Oleksandr Usyk, Boxing
Oleksandr Usyk's boxing career is nothing short of captivating – he became an Olympic champion in 2012 and the undisputed heavyweight champion. Usyk became the first boxer since Evander Holyfield to claim titles in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions.
Following these victories, Oleksandr decided not to rest on his laurels and issued a challenge to one of the top heavyweight boxers, Tyson Fury. Their match is set to take place in 2024, and its outcome will determine the future of the Ukrainian boxer – a win will assuredly place him among the greatest boxers of all time.
Despite his controversial political stance and statements in recent years leading up to the full-scale invasion, after February 24, 2022, Usyk made his position clear by joining the territorial defense of Ukraine and expressing readiness to defend the country with arms.
Lilia Podkopayeva, Artistic Gymnastics
Lilia Podkopayeva is recognized as one of the two Ukrainian women in history to secure two gold medals at a single Olympics. At Atlanta 1996, she performed brilliantly in artistic gymnastics, first claiming gold in the floor exercise and then becoming the absolute champion in this spectacular discipline. At just 17 years old, Lilia Podkopayeva became the youngest Ukrainian Olympic champion.
A crucial element of her performance was the double forward somersault with a 180-degree twist, an incredibly challenging move rarely attempted by other gymnasts even today. This unique element was named in honor of Lilia Podkopayeva herself.
Before the Atlanta Olympics, she had already become the world all-around champion at the age of 16 and throughout her career earned a total of 45 gold, 21 silver, and 14 bronze medals in elite competitions.
Following her retirement, Lilia has been heavily involved in charitable work. Currently residing in the USA, she actively fundraises to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Zhan Beleniuk, Wrestling
Zhan Beleniuk undoubtedly stands as one of Ukraine's finest Greco-Roman wrestlers in history. A multi-time world and European champion, an Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo, and a silver medalist at the Olympic Games in Brazil (where he was set to claim gold but faced biased refereeing in the final). He secured his Olympic gold while serving as a member of Ukraine's parliament. Furthermore, Beleniuk is the first Afro-Ukrainian elected to the country's parliament.
Beyond his sporting and legislative endeavors, Beleniuk has volunteered in the liberated territories of Kyiv and Chernihiv regions after the withdrawal of Russian forces, aiding the Ukrainian Armed Forces. He actively advocates against allowing Russian athletes to participate in international competitions.
Elina Svitolina, Tennis
Ukraine's most successful tennis player in history, Elina Svitolina, effectively utilizes her methodical approach to the game, turning it into a potent weapon for trophy conquests. She holds numerous national records, both among women and tennis players overall.
Svitolina boasts exceptional achievements—19 victories in WTA tournaments (17 in singles and two in doubles), achieving the world No. 3 ranking in 2017, and earning a bronze medal at the 2022 Olympic Games.
Her performance at the Tokyo Olympics is regarded as one of the best in her career. Even not in her best form, Svitolina, with her steely character, secured a bronze medal and realistically contended for a spot in the competition's final.
After a hiatus due to pregnancy, Elina returned to the court, reaching the quarterfinals of the French Open and the semifinals of Wimbledon. Beyond the court, Ukraine's top tennis player engages in active public advocacy, drawing the world's attention to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and fundraises to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The Klitschko Brothers, Boxing
Vitali and Volodymyr Klitschko, although siblings, are distinct personalities. However, in the consciousness of Ukrainians, they exist as a single entity as athletes. The dominance of the Klitschko brothers in world boxing began in the late 1990s when not many knew about Ukraine, a country that had recently gained independence. These formidable Ukrainian boxers, one after another, knocking out famous opponents and winning championship belts, became among the first ambassadors of the country on the world stage.
Even their losses (notably Vitali Klitschko's famous fight against Lennox Lewis) increased their popularity and kept them in the limelight. The zero years in the heavyweight division are often referred to as the Klitschko era since the brothers won and held all championship belts for a considerable time.
In terms of boxing skills in the ring, Vitali Klitschko seems more dominant, having defeated slightly stronger opponents. However, Volodymyr Klitschko had a longer career and more titles. Determining who is better is futile since they never faced each other in the ring, as they promised their mother in childhood.
After retiring from sports, Vitali Klitschko entered politics and has significant achievements there, notably serving as the mayor of Ukraine's capital for almost a decade. His brother, Volodymyr, actively supports the Ukrainian Armed Forces and has visited the frontlines several times to deliver drones and other equipment to the soldiers.
Andriy Shevchenko, Football
Like the Klitschko brothers, Andriy Shevchenko was one of Ukraine's main ambassadors in the world at the end of the 1990s and the early 2000s. Starting his brilliant career at Kyiv's Dynamo under the guidance of one of the greatest football coaches in world football history, Valeriy Lobanovskyi, Shevchenko quickly made waves across Europe in the late '90s. He showcased excellent performances in the Champions League, scoring against renowned opponents like Barcelona and Real Madrid, becoming Dynamo's top scorer in the 1998/99 Champions League season.
Moving to Italy's AC Milan in 1999, he became one of the leaders of that star-studded team, winning the Champions League and deservedly earning the Ballon d'Or in 2004. In 2005, he significantly contributed to Ukraine's qualification for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. He captained the team during the tournament and emerged as Ukraine's top scorer, netting two goals. The national team reached the quarter-finals, eventually falling to the tournament's eventual champions, Italy.
A remarkable highlight in Andriy's football career was his winning double in Ukraine's first match against Sweden in the 2012 European Championships on June 11, where Ukraine secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory. Following this, he made an unsuccessful attempt to enter politics, a decision that continues to draw criticism in his homeland.
From 2016 to 2021, Andriy Shevchenko worked with the coaching staff of the Ukrainian national team, leading it for a significant period and guiding the team to the quarter-finals of the 2020 European Championship.
In May 2022, Shevchenko became the first ambassador of the UNITED24 platform, through which people worldwide can provide support to Ukraine.