Ukraine is an Eastern European country that was once part of the Soviet Union, and did not compete in world sport under its own name until the 1990s. It is bordered by Belarus, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia and a few more countries in the region.

This has inevitably had an effect on the country both politically and socially, but what has been quite noticeable is how Ukraine has never lost its love of sports. The former Soviet Union had placed great importance on physical education and fitness, to which Ukraine had greatly benefited because it left Ukraine with many of the facilities that they would have not built on their own.

"Ukraine's sporting legacy from the Soviet era provided a strong foundation of training facilities and coaching expertise that helped the nation produce world-class athletes across multiple disciplines after independence."
— Robert J. Wood, PhD, Founder of Topend Sports

As with most European countries, Ukraine places special significance on football. There are a number of Ukrainians on the football stage, most notably Golden Ball Awardees Ihor Belanov, Oleh Blokhin, and Andriy Shevchenko. The Ukraine national team made their first appearance in the FIFA World Cup in 2006 and reached as far as the quarterfinals, where they lost to Italy, the champions of that year.

Ukraine has also produced many notable athletes in other sports like:

  • Brothers Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, who both held world heavyweight belts in boxing.
  • Pole vault world record holder Sergey Bubka who held the indoor world record for a staggering 21 years (1993-2014) and has held the outdoor record since 1994.

In basketball, the Ukraine national basketball team has also qualified for the FIBA World Cup in 2014.

Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko on a Ukraine stamp

Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko on a Ukraine stamp

Below are details of sports, sporting events and sports people related to Ukraine. Is there something missing? If you know of something that should be listed here, please let us know.

Traditional and Regional Sports in Ukraine

  • Bandy - This is a team sport, which is similar to ice hockey. It is played on a large ice field with sticks and a small ball.
  • Kettlebell lifting - This is a strength sport, which involves lifting and controlling a kettlebell.
  • Buzkashi - This is a team sport, which is similar to polo. It is played on horseback with a goat carcass as the ball.
  • Kvass - This is a traditional Ukrainian sport, which is played by throwing a wooden ball into a basket.
  • Kupala - This is a traditional Ukrainian sport, which involves jumping over a bonfire.

Ukrainian Sporting Success

  • Ukraine reached the FIBA World Cup for the first time in 2014
  • The Ukraine national football team made their first (and only to this date) appearance at the World Cup Finals in 2006 in Germany, where they reached the quarter-finals.
Olympics Gold Silver Bronze Total
Sydney 2000 3 10 10 23
Athens 2004 8 5 9 22
Beijing 2008 7 4 11 22
London 2012 5 4 10 19
Rio 2016 2 5 4 11
Tokyo 2020 1 6 12 19
Paris 2024 3 5 4 12
"Ukraine's consistent Olympic medal hauls demonstrate the depth of sporting talent in the country. From gymnastics to boxing to athletics, Ukrainian athletes have proven they can compete at the highest level across a remarkable range of sports."
— Robert Wood, founder of Topend Sports

Great Athletes from Ukraine

  • Andriy Shevchenko (football)
  • Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko (boxing)
  • Anna Bessonova (gymnastics)
  • Larissa Latynina (gymnastics)
  • Sergey Bubka (track and field - pole vault)
  • Elina Svitolina (tennis)
  • Vasyl Lomachenko (boxing)

Record Holder

Gymnast Larissa Latynina won 18 Olympic medals across three Games - more than any other athlete in Olympic history.

View Larissa Latynina Profile →

Ukraine Sports Trivia

  • Gymnast Larissa Latynina won six medals for three Olympic Games in a row; she remains the Olympic athlete with the most medals (18) and the most medals in individual events (14).
  • Boxer Vasyl Lomachenko currently ties the record for becoming a world champion in the fewest professional fights - winning the WBO featherweight title in his third fight.

Pole Vault Legend

Sergey Bubka held the indoor pole vault world record for an incredible 21 years (1993-2014) and still holds the outdoor record set in 1994.

View Sergey Bubka Profile →
"The Klitschko brothers' dominance in heavyweight boxing represented one of the most remarkable sibling achievements in sporting history. Together, they held various world titles for over 15 years, putting Ukrainian boxing firmly on the world map."
— According to sports science expert Robert Wood

Ukraine at Major Events

Past Sporting Events Hosted in Ukraine

  • 2012 Ukraine hosted the UEFA Euro in 2012 along with Poland.

Upcoming Sporting Events in Ukraine

No major international sporting events are currently scheduled for Ukraine.

Annual Sporting Events Held in Ukraine

  • Ukrainian Championship - the Ukrainian Premier League (football)
  • Ukrainian Cup - national football knock-out competition
  • Ukrainian Super Cup - game between the winners of the Ukrainian Championship and the Ukrainian Cup
  • The Ukrainian Basketball Super League - This is the most popular professional basketball league in Ukraine
  • The Ukrainian Handball Super League - This is the most popular professional handball league in Ukraine
  • The Ukrainian Volleyball Super League - This is one of the top professional volleyball leagues in Ukraine
  • The Ukrainian National Games - This is an annual multi-sport event, which is held in Ukraine

Sporting Facilities in Ukraine

  • NSC Olimpiyskiy - stadium in Kyiv, Ukraine