Now internationally known as a world Paralympic powerhouse, Team Ukraine certainly did not disappoint on the first day of action at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
Events taking place on August 25 saw Ukrainian Paralympians win a total of eight medals, placing the country second overall at the outset of the competition. Five medals were won in swimming, Ukraine’s strongest Paralympian sport, and an additional three were won in wheelchair fencing.
It was only fitting that Ukraine’s first gold medal was captured by flag bearer Yelyzaveta Mereshko in women’s 50-meter freestyle S6. Additional medals in swimming were won by Anton Kol (silver in men’s 100-meter backstroke S1), Oleksii Virchenko (silver in men’s 100-meter butterfly S13), multi-medalist Maksym Krypak (silver in men’s 50-meter freestyle) and Anna Hontar (bronze in women’s 50-meter freestyle S6).
In wheelchair fencing events, Artem Manko won silver in the men’s sabre individual category A, Olena Fedota nabbed silver in women’s sabre individual category B and Yevheniia Breus won bronze in women’s sabre individual category A.