The 2026 Winter Olympics are officially open: which sports will Ukrainians compete in?

The Winter Olympics in Italy kicked off with a record number of disciplines and an updated competition programme. The Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo have become one of the largest in the history of the Winter Olympics, and the Ukrainian team is represented in several key sports. Find out which disciplines Ukrainian athletes will compete in and who are the main hopes for the 2026 Olympics

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From 6 to 22 February, Italy is hosting the XXV Winter Olympic Games — the 2026 Winter Olympics. Several regions of the country are hosting the competitions, with Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo as the main Olympic capitals.

About 2,900 athletes from 93 countries are participating in the Games. A total of 116 sets of medals will be awarded in 16 sports — a record number for the Winter Olympics and seven sets more than in Beijing 2022.

In which sports will the Ukrainian team compete?

Ukraine will be represented by 46 athletes at the 2026 Olympics. They will compete for medals in 11 winter disciplines:

▪️ biathlon

▪️ alpine skiing

▪️ Nordic combined

▪️ cross-country skiing

▪️ luge

▪️ skeleton

▪️ snowboarding

▪️ ski jumping

▪️ figure skating

▪️ freestyle

▪️ short track

This is one of the most representative Ukrainian delegations in recent years, despite the difficult training conditions due to the war.

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New disciplines and records at the 2026 Olympics

The programme of the Games has been significantly expanded. For the first time, ski mountaineering, a dynamic sport that combines speed climbing and skiing, has appeared on the Olympic calendar.

Women's doubles in luge and pairs moguls in freestyle will also make their debut. The organisers separately emphasise the progress made in gender equality: women make up 47% of all Olympic participants — the highest percentage in the history of the Winter Games.

Where the competitions are held

The Olympics cover several regions of Italy.

Milan has become the centre for ice sports, hosting hockey tournaments, figure skating and short track competitions. Cortina d'Ampezzo is hosting women's alpine skiing, curling and bobsleigh races.

Biathletes compete in Antholz, while Val di Fiemme has become the main arena for cross-country skiing and ski jumping.

Ukrainian team: leaders and expectations

The largest representation in the Ukrainian national team is traditionally in biathlon and luge — 10 athletes in each discipline. The team is led by experienced leaders: Dmytro Pidruchnyi in biathlon, Vladyslav Heraskevych in skeleton and one of the favourites in freestyle, Dmytro Kotovskyi.

Yelyzaveta Sydorko (short track) and Vladyslav Heraskevych were the flag bearers for the Ukrainian team at the opening ceremony.

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