Ukraine wins first-ever medal in Luge World Cup relay

For the first time in history, the Ukrainian luge team has won a World Cup medal, securing bronze in the mixed relay at a stage in Sigulda, Latvia.

Rubryka reports the achievement, citing Suspilne Sport.

In the second relay of the 2024/25 season, the Ukrainian team finished just 3.947 seconds behind the German team, who took first place.

The Ukrainian team was represented by:

• Singles: Yulianna Tunytska and Andrii Mandzii
• Doubles: Ihor Hoy with Nazarii Kachmar, and Olena Stetskiv with Oleksandra Mokh.

The Ukrainian team reached the podium as one of only three teams to successfully complete the entire track distance. Four other teams failed to reach the finish line.

In comparison to their performance earlier in the season, the Ukrainian team finished sixth in the first relay on the track in Oberhof. Meanwhile, the team race scheduled in Innsbruck in early December was canceled due to technical issues.

2024/25 World Cup relay standings 

• Germany — 185 points
• Austria — 185
• Ukraine — 120
• Italy — 70
• Latvia — 60

The Ukrainians' bronze in the World Cup relay signifies:

• The ninth medal for the Ukrainian national team in the history of World Cup luge competitions and the first ever in the relay event.
• The first time the Ukrainian team has been on the World Cup podium since 2008, when Nataliia Yakushenko won silver in the singles. Yakushenko also claimed all eight of the team's previous medals.
• An anniversary milestone for Ukrainian luge, as the relay medal in Sigulda marks the team's 10th medal at the top level, including Yakushenko's bronze at the 2009 World Championship.
• Ukraine's current third place in the relay discipline standings after two stages, trailing only Germany and Austria, who are tied for the lead.

It is worth reminding, the Sports Journalists Association has named fencer Olha Kharlan the greatest Ukrainian athlete of all time.

Ukrainian freediver Kateryna Sadurska has set her second world record, diving to a depth of 84 meters without finswhile holding her breath. This impressive depth is approximately a quarter of the height of the Eiffel Tower.