55 Notable alumni of
National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine
Updated:
The National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine is 922nd in the world, 330th in Europe, and 12th in Ukraine by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 55 notable alumni from the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff.
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Vitali Klitschko
- Enrolled in the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine
- In 2000 graduated with Doctor of Philosophy in sports science
- Occupations
- kickboxerpolitician
- Biography
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Vitalii Volodymyrovych Klychko, known as Vitali Klitschko, is a Ukrainian politician and former professional boxer. He serves as mayor of Kyiv. Until the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 he also served as head of the Kyiv City State Administration.
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Sergei Bubka
- Occupations
- athletics competitorpole vaulterpolitician
- Biography
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Serhiy Nazarovych Bubka is a Ukrainian former pole vaulter. He is the 1988 Olympic Champion, a record six-time consecutive World Champion, a record four-time World Indoor Champion, the 1985 European Indoor Champion, the 1986 European Champion and a seven-time IAAF Grand Prix Final Champion. Bubka broke the world record in men's pole vault a record 35 times (17 outdoors, 18 indoors), and was the first pole vaulter to clear 6.0 meters and 6.10 meters, holding the indoor record of 6.15 meters from 1993 to 2014 and outdoor record of 6.14 meters from 1994 to 2020.
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Potap
- Occupations
- songwriterpresenterrappertelevision presenterrecord producer
- Biography
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Oleksiy Andriyovich Potapenko, known professionally as Potap (Потап) is a Ukrainian singer, rapper, songwriter, and producer. He has been involved as a performer and/or producer in Potap I Nastya, Vremya I Steklo, MOZGI, and many more, releasing over 300 songs.
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Zhan Beleniuk
- Occupations
- athleteamateur wrestlerpolitician
- Biography
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Zhan Vensanovych Beleniuk is a Ukrainian politician and Greco-Roman wrestler. He is a three-time Olympic medalist and won the gold medal in the Greco-Roman 87 kg at the 2020 Summer Olympics, the silver medal in the Greco-Roman 85 kg at the 2016 Summer Olympics and a bronze medal in the Greco-Roman 87 kg at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Beleniuk is also a two-time world champion, a three-time European champion and a European Games champion. In 2019, he became the first black member of the Ukrainian Parliament.
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Denys Berinchyk
- Occupations
- boxer
- Biography
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Denys Berinchyk is a Ukrainian professional boxer. He held the WBO lightweight title from May 2024 to February 2025.
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Yuriy Sedykh
- Occupations
- athletics competitorhammer throwerphysical education teacher
- Biography
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Yuriy Georgiyevich Sedykh was a track and field athlete who represented the Soviet Union from 1976 to 1991 in the hammer throw. He was a European, World and Olympic Champion, and holds the world record with a throw of 86.74 m in 1986.
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Irina Deriugina
- Enrolled in the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine
- Studied in 1980
- Occupations
- rhythmic gymnastcoach
- Biography
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Irina Ivanivna Deriugina is a Ukrainian former individual rhythmic gymnast athlete who competed for the Soviet Union, and is now a Ukrainian coach in rhythmic gymnastics. She is the only Soviet rhythmic gymnast to win two all-around world titles, which she won at the 1977 and 1979. Her mother, Albina, was her coach, and her success influenced the further development of rhythmic gymnastics in Kyiv.
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Inessa Kravets
- Occupations
- athletics competitor
- Biography
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Inessa Mykolayivna Kravets is a Ukrainian former triple jumper and long jumper. She was among the most prominent female triple jumpers in her era and was the world record holder until the 2021 Olympics, when Yulimar Rojas broke her record. Her record was one of the most durable in women's athletics.
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Volodymyr Bezsonov
- Occupations
- association football playerassociation football coach
- Biography
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Volodymyr Vasylyovych Bezsonov is a Ukrainian football manager and former player who played for the former Soviet Union national team. The most recent team he was managing was FC Dnipro in the Ukrainian Premier League.
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Alexander Volkov
- Occupations
- basketball playerpolitician
- Biography
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Oleksandr Anatoliyovych Volkov, commonly known as Sasha Volkov, is a Ukrainian former professional basketball player. He was born in Omsk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union. At 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) tall, he played at the power forward and center positions. He was versatile with the ball and quick on his feet, which made him a very sought after player.
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Yuri Rost
- Enrolled in the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine
- Studied in 1961
- Occupations
- actorwriterpresenterphotographerjournalist
- Biography
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Yuri Rost is a photographer, journalist, author and traveller. Rost's photographic vision is closely related to the humanist tradition established by post-war photographers like Henri Cartier-Bresson, Leonard Freed, and Ed van der Elsken. He was selected by Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908–2005) for inclusion in his last exhibition, Les choix d’Henri Cartier-Bresson (Paris, 2003) after meeting him in Paris.
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Boris Onishchenko
- Occupations
- modern pentathlete
- Biography
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Boris Grigoryevich Onishchenko is a former Soviet modern pentathlete who competed at the 1968, 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics.
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Rifat Shaykhutdinov
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Rifat Gabdulkhakovich Shaykhutdinov is a Russian politician. He currently serves as a member of the State Duma and the Chairman of the State Duma's Committee on Relations with CIS States and Compatriots, and Deputy Chairman of the State Duma's Committee on Power, Transport and Telecommunications. From 1992 to 1997 he was director of the Center for Experts in the Ministry of State Property in the Northwest Region.
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Yuliia Paievska
- Occupations
- designerathleteaikidokavolunteerparamedic
- Biography
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Yuliia Heorhiivna "Taira" Paievska is a Ukrainian medic who founded the volunteer ambulance corps "Taira's Angels" during the Russo-Ukrainian War. She was captured and imprisoned by Russian soldiers on March 16, 2022 and released on June 17, 2022. She became a symbol of bravery and sacrifice according to the New York Times.
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Vadim Gutzeit
- Occupations
- politicianfencer
- Biography
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Vadym Gutzeit is a Ukrainian Olympic champion sabre fencer, and former Ukraine's Youth and Sport Minister, as well as the president of the Ukrainian Fencing Federation and the President of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine.
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Boris Shakhlin
- Occupations
- artistic gymnastprofessor
- Biography
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Boris Anfiyanovich Shakhlin was a Soviet gymnast who was the 1960 Olympic all-around champion and the 1958 all-around World Champion. He won a total of 13 medals including seven gold medals at the Summer Olympics, and was the most successful athlete at the 1960 Summer Olympics. He held the record for most Olympic medals by a male athlete record until gymnast Nikolai Andrianov won his 14th and 15th medals at the 1980 Summer Olympics. He also won 14 medals at the World Championships.
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Viacheslav Konstantinovskyi
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Vyacheslav Leonidovych Konstantinovsky is a Ukrainian businessman and politician who served as a People's Deputy of Ukraine from Ukraine's 220th electoral district from 2014 until his resignation in 2017.
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Pavel Pinigin
- Occupations
- amateur wrestler
- Biography
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Pavel Pinigin is a former Soviet wrestler and Olympic champion in Freestyle wrestling. He is also three times world champion in freestyle wrestling. He is married to athlete and Olympic champion Mariya Pinigina.
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Serhiy Kovalets
- Occupations
- association football playerassociation football coach
- Biography
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Serhiy Ivanovych Kovalets is a Ukrainian former footballer who recently was a manager of Podillya Khmelnytskyi.
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Mykhaylo Radutsky
- Occupations
- politicianphysician
- Biography
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Mykhailo Borysovych Radutskyi is a Ukrainian entrepreneur, social activist, People's Deputy of Ukraine of the IVth convocation.
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Jüri Tamm
- Occupations
- hammer throwersportspersonathletics competitorpolitician
- Biography
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Jüri Tamm was an Estonian hammer thrower and politician. In his sporting career Tamm represented the Soviet Union, he won a bronze medal in the 1980 and 1988 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 1987 World Championships in Athletics. He set the world record for the hammer in 1980. Tamm was member of Estonian parliament Riigikogu from 2007 to 2011 as a member of the Social Democratic Party.
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Valeriy Andriytsev
- Occupations
- amateur wrestler
- Biography
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Valerii Oleksandrovych Andriitsev is a male freestyle wrestler from Ukraine. He won the silver medal in the Men's freestyle 96 kg at 2012 Summer Olympics. He won the silver in the 2012 European Wrestling Championships. At the 2014 World Wrestling Championships he took the bronze medal after winning a rematch against American Jake Varner, who beat him in the gold medal match at the 2012 Olympics. In June 2015, he earned bronze at the inaugural European Games for Ukraine in wrestling, more specifically, in the men's freestyle in the - 97 kg division.
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Liudmyla Luzan
- Occupations
- canoeist
- Biography
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Liudmyla Volodymyrivna Luzan is a Ukrainian sprint canoeist. She is a two-time silver and a bronze Olympic medalist, eight-time World champion and four-time European champion.
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Yuri Titov
- Occupations
- artistic gymnast
- Biography
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Yuri Yevlampiyevich Titov is a former Russian gymnast, Olympic champion and four times world champion, who competed for the Soviet Union. He won a total of nine Olympic medals from three Olympic games (1956, 1960 and 1964).
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Oleksandr Sydorenko
- Occupations
- swimmer
- Biography
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Oleksandr Sydorenko, also known as Aleksandr Sidorenko, was an individual medley swimmer from the USSR. He won the 400 m individual medley at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.
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Viktoria Mazur
- Occupations
- rhythmic gymnast
- Biography
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Viktoria Oleksiivna Mazur is a retired Ukrainian rhythmic gymnast who competed in individual and group rhythmic gymnastics.
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Vasyl Fedoryshyn
- Occupations
- amateur wrestler
- Biography
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Vasyl Petrovych Fedoryshyn is a male wrestler from Ukraine, who competes in the men's -60 kg freestyle division.
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Oleksandr Khotsianivskyi
- Occupations
- amateur wrestler
- Biography
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Oleksandr Iosypovych Khotsianivskyi is a Ukrainian freestyle wrestler, who competes in the men's super heavyweight category.
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Oksana Zubkovska
- Occupations
- athletics competitor
- Biography
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Oksana Zubkovska is a Paralympian athlete from Ukraine competing mainly in category F12 long jump events. She won the gold medal in the women's long jump F12 event at the Summer Paralympics in 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024.
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Matvii Bidnyi
- Enrolled in the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine
- In 2001 studied coach
- Occupations
- civil servantsports executivebodybuilderpolitician
- Biography
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Matvii Viktorovych Bidnyi is a Ukrainian politician, sports administrator, and former professional bodybuilder. He has served as the Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine since 5 September 2024, after holding the position in an acting capacity from 9 November 2023 to 5 September 2024. He is also a three-time Ukrainian bodybuilding champion.
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Vladimir Nikolaevich Platonov
- Occupations
- scientist
- Biography
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Vladimir Nikolaevich Platonov is a Soviet and Ukrainian sports scientist and academic. He is a chief researcher at the Laboratory of Theory and Methods of Olympic Training at the Educational and Scientific Olympic Institute of the National University of Physical Education and Sport of Ukraine (NUPESU).
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Elena Sedina
- Enrolled in the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine
- Studied in 1994
- Occupations
- chess player
- Biography
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Elena Sedina is a Ukrainian-Italian chess player who holds the FIDE titles of International Master (IM) and Woman Grandmaster (WGM). She has won the Ukrainian Women's Chess Championship, the Australian Open Chess Championship, and is a Chess Olympiad and Mitropa Cup gold medalist.
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Lyudmila Shevtsova
- Occupations
- athletics competitormiddle-distance runner
- Biography
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Lyudmila Ivanovna Gurevitch is a retired Russian-Ukrainian athlete who competed mainly in the 800 metres. On 3 July 1960, she set a world record in this event at 2 min 4.3 seconds. She equaled this time while winning the 800 m gold at the 1960 Olympics two months later. Two Australians, Brenda Jones and Dixie Willis led the race. With 50–70 m left, Willis stepped on the curb and dropped out of competition, while Shevtsova gradually reached Jones and won in the last meters.
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Vitaliy Danilov
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Vitaliy Danilov is the former president of Ukrainian Premier League and honorary president of FC Kharkiv (2005–2010). Danilov is a former member of Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada).
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Tetiana Kocherhina
- Occupations
- handball player
- Biography
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Tetyana Ivanivna Kocherhina is a retired Ukrainian handball player. Competing for the Soviet Union she won gold medals at the 1976 and 1980 Olympics and three medals at the world championships in 1973–1978. During her career Kocherhina played 133 international matches and scored 616 goals, more than anyone in the Soviet team. She was the best scorer of the 1975 World Championships.
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Viktor Tsybulenko
- Occupations
- javelin thrower
- Biography
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Viktor Serhiyovych Tsybulenko was a Ukrainian javelin thrower who represented the Soviet Union.
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Vladimir Poulnikov
- Occupations
- sport cyclist
- Biography
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Volodymyr Pulnikov is a Ukrainian former road racing cyclist.
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Svyatoslav Syrota
- Occupations
- association football playerassociation football referee
- Biography
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Svyatoslav Anatoliyovych Syrota is a Ukrainian sports functionary and former player. Master of Sports of Ukraine (1995).
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Alcides Sagarra
- Occupations
- boxing trainerboxernational team coach
- Biography
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Dr. Alcides Sagarra Carón is a Cuban sport official best known for moulding the amateur boxing team into a dominant force during his reign as the coach of the Cuban National Boxing Team (1964–2001) for which he gained an honorary soubriquet "El Maestro" (="The Master").
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Ruslan Platon
- Enrolled in the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine
- Studied in 1996-1999
- Occupations
- association football player
- Biography
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Ruslan Platon is a Ukrainian former professional footballer who played as a forward.
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Anastasiya Kozhenkova
- Occupations
- rower
- Biography
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Anastasiya Kozhenkova is a Ukrainian rower. She won a gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the quadruple sculls event with Kateryna Tarasenko, Nataliya Dovhodko, and Yana Dementyeva.
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Viktor Hryshko
- Occupations
- association football playerassociation football coach
- Biography
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Viktor Vasylyovych Hryshko is a Ukrainian coach and former Soviet and Ukrainian footballer.
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Grigory Gamarnik
- Occupations
- amateur wrestler
- Biography
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Grigory Aleksandrovich Gamarnik was a world champion wrestler and the first Greco-Roman wrestling world champion from Ukraine.
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Yury Gelman
- Years
- 1955-.. (age 71)
- Occupations
- coach
- Biography
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Yury Gelman is a Ukrainian-born American fencing coach. He is seven-time Olympic fencing coach for the United States, who has coached Team USA in the 2000 Sydney, 2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing, 2012 London, 2016 Rio, 2020 Tokyo, and 2024 Paris Olympics, and US National Men's Saber Coach. Through July 2024, he had coached 19 fencers who became Olympians, six of whom won Olympic medals. Gelman also served as coach of the Ukrainian Fencing Team from 1987 to 1991.
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Mykhaylo Ishchenko
- Occupations
- handball coachhandball player
- Biography
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Mykhaylo Oleksiyovich Ishchenko is a retired Soviet handball goalkeeper who competed in the 1972, 1976 and 1980 Summer Olympics. He won several awards; such as gold medal in 1976, a silver in 1980 and placed fifth in 1972. He won another set of gold and silver medal at the world championships.
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Angelina Radivilova
- Occupations
- artistic gymnast
- Biography
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Angelina Anatoliyivna Radivilova is a Ukrainian former artistic gymnast. She competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics and also competed at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019.
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Dzhoan-Feybi Bezhura
- Occupations
- athletefencer
- Biography
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Dzhoan Feybi Bezhura is a Ukrainian épée fencer. She is 2023 European Games champion in women's individual épée.
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Vitaly Medvedev
- Occupations
- fencer
- Biography
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Vitaly Mikhailovich Medvedev is a fencer who specializes in the épée. He was born in the Uzbek SSR, Soviet Union. His family then moved to the Lithuanian SSR, and in 1990 to Crimea, Ukrainian SSR, where he started fencing at the age of 11.He competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics and finished in seventh place with the Ukrainian team. In 2013, he won a silver and a bronze medal in the team épée at the world and European championships, respectively.
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Volodymyr Dyudya
- Occupations
- sport cyclist
- Biography
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Volodymyr Yuriyovych Dyudya is a Ukrainian former professional racing cyclist, who last rode for Team Lvshan Landscape. He competes on both road and track. He was born in Bila Tserkva.
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Nataliya Tymoshkina
- Occupations
- handball player
- Biography
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Nataliya Leonidivna Tymoshkina is a retired Ukrainian handball goalkeeper. She was part of the Soviet teams that won gold medals at the 1976 and 1980 Olympics and placed second at the 1975 and 1978 world championships. The Soviet team leaders Zinaida Turchyna and Tetyana Kocherhina credit the 1976 Olympic victory to Tymoshkina.
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Maxym Pavlenko
- Occupations
- association football playerfutsal player
- Biography
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Maksym Pavlenko is a Ukrainian retired association football and futsal player who played for Interkas Kyiv, MFC Shakhtar Donetsk, Aqtobe-BTA, Time Lviv, Energy Lviv, Uragan Ivano-Frankivsk and the Ukraine national futsal team and current futsal coach.
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Victor Turchin
- Occupations
- swimming coach
- Biography
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Victor Anatol'evich Turchin is a Ukrainian swimming coach, best known for training multiple world gold medalist Oleg Lisogor through the 1990s to the early 2000s in his hometown of Brovary, Ukraine. Likewise, Victor Turchin has coached many different swimmers and who took part in the World University Games who have won 38 gold, 20 silver, 14 bronze medals.
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Roman Leybyuk
- Occupations
- cross-country skier
- Biography
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Roman Leybyuk is a Ukrainian cross-country skier who has competed since 1998. Competing in three Winter Olympics, he earned his best finish of 11th in the 10 km + 10 km combined pursuit at Salt Lake City in 2002.
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Anatolii Kovalevskyi
- Occupations
- biathletecross-country skier
- Biography
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Anatolii Kovalevskyi is a Ukrainian male visually impaired cross-country skier and biathlete. He represented Ukraine at the 2014 Winter Paralympics and competed in the men's cross-country skiing and biathlon events. Anatolii Kovalevskyi also went onto represent Ukraine at the 2018 Winter Paralympics and secured a bronze medal in the men's 7.5km visually impaired biathlon event.
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Valery Kobzarenko
- Occupations
- sport cyclist
- Biography
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Valery Kobzarenko is a Ukrainian former professional track and road bicycle racer. He turned professional in 2004 with Acqua & Sapone and retired at the end of the 2013 season.
