Ukraine strikes gold in first start at 2026 Paralympics
Taras Rad (photo: facebook.com/taras.rad)
Ukrainian para-biathlete Taras Rad won a gold medal in the first event for Ukraine's national team at the 2026 Winter Paralympics. It is the athlete's second Paralympic victory of his career, according to the competition results.
Speed and accuracy
The first event for the Ukrainian team was the men’s sitting biathlon sprint. A total of 28 athletes competed, including five representing Ukraine: Oleksandr Aleksyk, Pavlo Bal, Vasyl Kravchuk, Taras Rad, and Hryhorii Shymko.
The star of the day was Rad. The Ukrainian athlete delivered a flawless shooting performance without a single miss. Thanks to his high speed on the course, he crossed the finish line in 19:55.5 minutes, finishing ahead of all competitors.
As a result, Rad became a two-time Paralympic champion. He won his first gold medal at the 2018 Winter Paralympics in the 12.5 km biathlon race.
Results of the Ukrainians and historic streak
Other Ukrainian athletes also delivered strong results. Vasyl Kravchuk finished just outside the podium in fourth place. Despite perfect shooting, he missed a medal by only 31.5 seconds. Meanwhile, Oleksandr Aleksyk secured a place in the top 10 with the ninth-best result.
This success extended a unique streak for the Ukrainian team. Ukraine has won biathlon medals at eight consecutive Paralympic Games, starting with the 1998 Winter Paralympics in Nagano. Moreover, Ukrainian athletes have captured gold medals in the sport at seven straight Games since 2002.
Who is Taras Rad
Taras Rad is a 26-year-old para-biathlete and cross-country skier from the Ternopil region of Ukraine.
He began practicing sports in childhood. At the age of 14, after an injury and infection, his leg was amputated below the knee. Despite this, he returned to sport and eventually became one of the leaders of Ukraine’s Paralympic team.
Rad is the champion of the 2018 Winter Paralympics in biathlon (12.5 km sitting). At the time, at just 18 years old, he was the youngest athlete on Ukraine’s national team at the Games.
At the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing, he won three medals — two silvers and one bronze. He is also a multiple medalist at world championships and Ukrainian national competitions.
Earlier, we reported where and when fans can support Ukrainian athletes on the first day of the 2026 Winter Paralympics.
