Ukraine at the 2018 Winter Paralympics facts for kids

Ukraine sent a team of amazing athletes to the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. These athletes competed in different winter sports like para-alpine skiing, para-Nordic skiing (which includes cross-country skiing and biathlon), and para-snowboarding.

Many groups helped the Ukrainian team get ready and travel to the Paralympics. The National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, and a mobile phone company called Lifecell all supported the athletes. They provided money, special clothes, and even mobile phones to help the team succeed. They also helped pay for the athletes to practice for their big races.

On the very first day of the competition, several Ukrainian athletes won medals in biathlon! These champions included Anatolii Kovalevskyi, Liudmyla Liashenko, Vitaliy Luk'yanenko, Ihor Reptyukh, and Oksana Shyshkova. The government of Ukraine gives special money awards to athletes who win medals at the Paralympic Games. For the 2018 Winter Paralympics, gold medalists received USD$125,000, silver medalists received USD$80,000, and bronze medalists received USD$55,000.

Team Ukraine at the Paralympics

Ukraine first sent athletes to the Winter Paralympics in 1998. At the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Ukraine was one of the top countries, ranking fourth in the total number of medals won.

For the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang, Ukrainian athletes competed in para-alpine skiing, para-Nordic skiing, and para-snowboarding. Here are some of the athletes who were part of "Team Ukraine":

How the Team Got Help

The Ukrainian team received great support from several organizations. These included the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, and the mobile phone company Lifecell.

The Ukrainian government provided money to the national team for the 2018 Winter Paralympics. This money helped pay for important things like clothes, footwear, and accessories. These items were needed for both the competitions and the opening and closing ceremonies. The government also gave a lot of money in 2017 (UAH 20.2 million) and 2018 (UAH 10.27 million) to help the athletes practice and train.

Lifecell also played a big part by giving mobile phones to the team members. These phones could be used for free while the athletes were in Pyeongchang, helping them stay connected.

Para-Nordic Skiing Success

Ukrainian athletes were especially strong in biathlon, a sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. They hoped to win many medals in this area.

Biathlon Results

The Ukrainian team had amazing results in biathlon:

• In the men's 7.5 km standing race, Ihor Reptyukh of Ukraine won a bronze medal.
• In the men's 7.5 km visually impaired race, Vitaliy Luk'yanenko of Ukraine won a gold medal, and Anatolii Kovalevskyi of Ukraine won a bronze medal.
• In the women's 6 km biathlon standing race, Liudmyla Liashenko of Ukraine won a bronze medal.
• In the women's 6 km biathlon visually impaired race, Oksana Shyshkova of Ukraine won a silver medal.

Cross-Country Skiing Results

Ukraine also did well in cross-country skiing:

• In the men's 15 km sitting race, Maksym Yarovyi of Ukraine won a gold medal.

Medal Awards

Ukrainian athletes who win a Paralympic medal receive money from their government. This is part of an effort to show respect and improve the lives of Paralympians, similar to how Olympic athletes are supported.

• Gold medalists received USD$125,000.
• Silver medalists received USD$80,000.
• Bronze medalists received USD$55,000.

See also

In Spanish: Ucrania en los Juegos Paralímpicos de Pyeongchang 2018 para niños