The Ukrainian National Olympic Committee has honoured the best athletes and coaches of August 2026

Opening the event, the President of the NOC of Ukraine and Olympic fencing champion Vadym Guttsait congratulated the award winners and thanked the athletes and coaches for their daily hard work, dedication to sport and the results they achieve at international competitions.

“I am delighted to welcome everyone to the Olympic House. This is a place that is always open to our sporting and Olympic family. It is here that we meet, socialise, support one another and honour the very best. Every medal represents a huge amount of work. It involves training, competitions, victories and defeats, as well as the people who stand by the athletes every day. Today, we are celebrating precisely this work. “I congratulate our female athletes, coaches and federations, and wish them further success,” said Vadym Guttsait.

Lyudmyla Luzan was named the best female athlete of August. This is the fourth time she has received the award from the President of the NOC of Ukraine, Vadym Guttsait. 

At the World Championships in Poznań (Poland), the Ukrainian athlete won two medals. Lyudmyla Luzan became world champion in the 200-metre single canoe event and also won silver in the 500-metre double canoe event alongside Anastasia Rybachok.

The victory in the 200-metre single canoe was particularly special for the Ukrainian athlete. Lyudmyla Luzan successfully defended her world title and became only the second athlete in history – and the first European woman – to repeat this feat in this discipline.

After receiving her award, Lyudmyla Luzan thanked the NOC of Ukraine for the honour, as well as her coaches, team and everyone who supports her on her sporting journey. The canoeist noted that every result is the joint effort of a large team that helps her move forward every day. 

The NOC of Ukraine also recognised the Ukrainian Canoe Federation, led by Ihor Slivinskyi, and the ‘Dynamo’ Physical Culture and Sports Society of Ukraine for their role in preparing the world champion and runner-up – the award was received by the society’s first deputy chairman, Mykola Danevych.

In the category ‘Best Young Female Athlete of August 2026’, the winner was judoka Kseniia Kyrylchuk.

At the World Cadet Championships for athletes under 18 in Guayaquil (Ecuador), the Ukrainian won a silver medal in the under-52kg weight category.

For the young athlete, this result was a significant achievement on the international stage and confirmed her competitiveness amongst the world’s strongest female judokas in her age group.

Kateryna Solomyana-Kyrylchuk, Kseniia’s personal coach, was named the young athlete’s best coach for August 2026.

The NOC of Ukraine also recognised the Ukrainian Judo Federation for preparing the silver medallist at the World Cadet Championships; the award was received by the federation’s president, Mykhailo Koshlyak.

The National Olympic Committee of Ukraine warmly congratulates Lyudmyla Luzan, Kseniia Kyrylchuk and Kateryna Solomianova-Kyrylchuk on this well-deserved recognition.

We wish them new challenges, strong performances and victories, as well as continued fruitful work to successfully represent Ukraine on the international sporting stage!

The events organised by the NOC of Ukraine are supported by the following sponsors and partners: United Global Logistics, 4F, Resource Storage, the Institute of Psychology and Entrepreneurship, Perets FM, Tsifra, and Champion Radio.