Bilodid earns Ukraine’s first medal
noc-ukr.org
Judoka Daria Bilodid (48 kg) won bronze after defeating Shira Rishony of Israel.
Not only was it Ukraine’s first medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, but it was 20-year-old Daira Bilodid’s first ever Olympic medal and Ukraine’s first Olympic medal in women’s judo. In the women’s 48-kg competition, Bilodid defeated Serbia’s Milica Nikolic and Portugal’s Catarina Costa, was outpointed by Japan’s Funa Tonaki, and bounced back to win the bronze medal by besting Israel’s Shira Rishony on July 24.
Winning medals is nothing new for the 5-foot-8, 106-pound young lady who has captured two golds in World Championships, a gold in European Games and a pair of gold medals at the European Championships. At the age of 17, she broke the record for becoming the youngest judo world champion. She is also the youngest two-time world judo champion among both men and women.
Ukraine’s second Olympic medal was claimed by fencer Ihor Reizlin in men’s épée on July 25. Reizlin beat Switzerland’s Benjamin Steffen (15-11), Switzerland’s Max Heinzer (15-12) and Egypt’s Mohamed Elsayed (15-13), before losing to France’s Romain Cannone (10-15). To win the bronze medal, Reizlin overcame Italy’s Andrea Santarelli (15-12). The 36-year-old was a two-time World Championships medalist in 2019 (team and individual).
Ukrainian Fencer Igor Reizlin won the bronze medal in the men’s individual épée.
Olena Kostevych and Oleh Omelchuk teamed up to win a bronze medal in the mixed 10-meter air pistol event on July 27. The Ukrainian duo defeated Serbians Zorana Arunovic and Damir Mikec 16-12 in their bronze medal match. The competition had 40 competitors from 15 different nations.
Romanchuk sets new Olympic record
Ukrainian swimmer Mykhailo Romanchuk set an Olympic record in the 800-meter freestyle with a time of 7:41:28 seconds in his semifinal race on July 28. Romanchuk holds several distance freestyle national records. In European and World Championship competitions since 2016 he has won 11 medals, including six gold medals. A second Ukrainian swimmer, Serhiy Frolov, also reached the finals of the 800-meter freestyle.
In shooting, a pair of Ukrainian Olympians came so close to medaling: Kostevych placed fourth in the women’s 10-meter air pistol as did Pavlo Korostylov, who took fourth in men’s 10-meter air pistol. In weightlifting, Kamila Konotop finished fifth in the women’s 55-kg event and in judo Artem Lesiuk was seventh in the 60-kg competition. In canoe slalom competition Viktoriia Us finished eighth overall in the women’s K-1.
Ukraine performed very well in tennis with fourth-seeded Elina Svitolina playing her way into the semifinal (one win away from a guaranteed medal), while the doubles team of Lyudmyla and Nadiia Kichenok made it to the quarterfinal before losing to Veronika Kudermetova and Elena Vesnina of the Russian Olympic Committee.
Oleksiak wins two medals, sets Canadian record
Celebrated Canadian Olympian Penny Oleksiak won a silver medal in the women’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay on July 24. When Oleksiak dove in to swim the final 100 meters, she was behind rival Simone Manuel but managed to overtake Manuel in the last touch for second place to win Canada’s first medal at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. This was her fifth Olympic medal, having won four in 2016 at Rio (two individual and two relay: a gold, silver and two bronze). Oleksiak went on to win her second medal at the Tokyo Olympics and sixth of her career, taking bronze in the women’s 200-meter freestyle swim on July 28. The medal made her the most decorated Canadian athlete to ever compete at the Summer Games and tied her for most decorated Canadian in any Olympics.
Ukraine a fashion favorite at opening ceremonies
Ukraine was mentioned among the 23 best-dressed countries during the 2020 Olympics opening ceremony in Tokyo on July 23, as per several major media outlets. Yahoo Sports stated that Ukraine’s delegation, featuring 161 athletes/staff (and 161 fanny packs to go along with them), was the country with the best accessory of the Summer Games. The delegation wore tri-colored t-shirts, light blue shorts, an optional very light blue windbreaker and yellow or white athletic shoes.
Olena Kostevych and Oleh Omlechuk celebrate their bronze medal in mixed pairs 10-meter air pistol.
In an effort to promote gender equality, the International Olympic Committee gave every participating country the option to allow two flag bearers at the opening ceremony’s traditional parade of nations. Flag bearers for Ukraine were Kostevych (shooting) and Bohdan Nikishyn (fencing), two veteran Olympians.
The 37-year-old Kostevych won a gold medal in the 10-meter air pistol event back at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. She won two bronze medals in the 2012 London Olympics (10-meter and 25-meter air pistol) and is a multiple World Championship and a Universiade champion. Kostevych won her first shooting event at age 17.
The 41-year-old Nikishyn is a right-handed épée fencer who took up the sport at the age of 10. At 18 he won a team silver at the 1998 Junior Worlds. He was a 2015 team World Champion, is a three-time Olympian, and has won five World Championship medals (four team) and seven European Championship medals (five team).