What are the expectations of the Ukrainian team at the 2020 Olympics?

The XXXII Summer Olympic Games were officially opened on July 23 in Tokyo. The Olympics were originally scheduled for 2020, but were postponed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The competition will last until August 8. About 11 thousand athletes from 200 countries will take part in them. Read below what sports will be represented by Ukrainians at the Olympics.

Judo: with the hope of a high result

About 30 million wrestlers around the world practice this sport, which definitely emphasizes its mass appeal. Judokas, like all Olympians, had to wait five years for the Tokyo Olympics. But the coach of the Ukrainian national team assures that the team is not afraid of any challenges. 

In judo, Ukraine will be represented at the Olympics by seven athletes in different weight categories: four representatives of the men’s team and three of the women’s team. All the girls are Olympic debutants, but the head coach is confident that everyone will show an excellent result.

Artistic gymnastics: with hope for the podium

In this sport, Ukraine will be represented by Diana Varinskaya, as well as in the team all-around by Igor Radivilov, Petr Pakhnyuk, Evgeniy Yudenkov and Ilya Kovtun.

Artistic gymnastics is the oldest and traditional Olympic sport. Ukrainian artistic gymnastics also has its own long-standing traditions and a history of great victories. And the team went to the Olympic Games in Tokyo with hopes of reaching the podium. 

Fencing: show skills 

Not everyone knows, but fencing is a highly intellectual sport. And the fact that Ukrainian fencers regularly climbed to the Olympic podium is no secret in the sports world. At the Games in Tokyo, Ukraine will be represented exclusively by men in the team competition. But women will compete only in the individual competition: epee - Elena Krivitskaya and saber - Olga Kharlan.

Badminton: returning home with a victory 

Ukraine will be represented this year by Maria Ulitina and Artem Pochtarev. In the career of the first racket of Ukrainian badminton Pochtarev, this will be the second Olympics. 

Diving: acrobatics and trampoline training

The Ukrainian diving team was diligently preparing for the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Before performing jumps in the pool, athletes practice them in a special pit with foam rubber. Another important element of preparation is choreography classes. They develop coordination, form correct posture, strong muscle corset and train endurance. The technique of diving is also honed on a trampoline. 

Athletics: running to gold 

The Ukrainian national team in this sport includes, in particular, runner Tatyana Melnik. Melnyk is one of the brightest representatives of athletics in Ukraine. She is the winner of the European Games 2019. At the same time, she believes that all her current achievements are just the beginning. 

Greco-Roman wrestling: fighting spirit 

Ukrainian wrestlers are trained by Vladimir Shatskikh. The closer the start of the Olympics, the more intense the preparation, he says. 

Rhythmic gymnastics: nerves of steel

The Ukrainian national team in this sport at the 2020 Olympics is represented by seven gymnasts under the leadership of head coach Irina Deryugina. The athletes will represent Ukraine in the group and individual competitions. The head coach of the national team admits that preparation against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic and the postponement of the Olympics for a year was very difficult. 

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