Ukrainian Skiers Clinch Gold, Silver, and Bronze at Slavic Cup FIS in Slovakia
In the picturesque setting of Strbske Pleso, Slovakia, the international competition marked the 50th edition of the Tatra Cup and concurrently the Slavic Cup FIS series. Ukrainian athletes shone, securing a remarkable tally of 3 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze medals, as reported by the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine.
On the opening day of the Slavic Cup, Ukraine's cross-country skiing team displayed prowess, claiming two golds, a silver, and a bronze in the 1.4 km freestyle sprint event. Dmitry Dragun emerged victorious among men, outpacing teammate Andriy Dotsenko for the top spot. Victoria Olekh secured the gold among women, with fellow Ukrainians Sofia Shkatula taking silver and Anastasiia Ivanchenko earning bronze.
Slovak competitors Matěj Badan and Alžběta Garguláková claimed 3rd and 5th positions, respectively.
The second day saw Ukrainian women dominate the 10 km classic race, sweeping the entire podium. Victoria Olekh led the charge with a commanding 1:41.3 lead over Sofia Shkatula, who secured second place, narrowly edging out Anastasiia Ivanchenko by 0.4 seconds.
In the men's category, Andriy Dotsenko finished second, conceding victory to local skier Andrej Redňá by almost one and a half minutes. Kostiantyn Yaremenko missed the podium by nearly 10 seconds, securing the fourth spot, while another Slovak, Denis Tileš, completed the top three. Vitalii Trush finished seventh, and Dmitry Dragun was unable to finish the race.
In total, Victoria Olekh claimed gold, Sofia Shkatula silver, and Anastasiia Ivanchenko bronze among women. Andriy Dotsenko secured the silver for men.
The Slavic Cup serves as the inaugural stage of the Continental Cup for the 2023/2024 season, with three more stages to follow. Currently, Victoria Olekh and Andriy Dotsenko lead the Continental Cup, earning the right to compete in the 2024 World Cup early rounds in addition to their national quotas.
Ukrainian skiers concluded the Slavic Cup with an impressive haul of 8 medals: 3 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze.