Ukrainian veterans secure five gold medals in swimming at Invictus Games

Photo: Facebook / Invictus Games: Team Ukraine

Ulyana Guz

In Canada, during the Invictus Games, Ukrainian veterans won five medals in swimming.

The General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces reported this on Facebook.

"Five gold medals for Ukraine at once!" the message says.

^{Photo: Facebook / Invictus Games: Team Ukraine}

The General Staff reports that:

• A veteran of Ukraine's armed forces from Kyiv, Ihor Oliynyk won two gold medals in the 50 m and 100 m freestyle (ISC class);

• National Police of Ukraine veteran Ruslan Serhiychuk from Dnipropetrovsk region won two gold medals in the 50 m backstroke and 50 m breaststroke (ISD – VI class);

• Veteran of Ukraine's armed forces Artur Mylin from the Dnipropetrovsk region won a gold medal in the 50 m breaststroke (ISD—class).

"As long as we have such people, there will be Ukraine," the General Staff noted.

More than 550 wounded soldiers from 23 countries were participating in the Games this year.

Ukrainians won the most cross-country skiing and biathlon awards, winning six gold medals.

For reference:

It should be noted that the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games 2025, one of the largest international competitions among veterans and military personnel, took place in Vancouver, Canada.

As Rubryka wrote, as part of the mixed team Afghanistan Unconquered 3, Ukrainians Artur Mylin and Illia Pylypenko won "bronze" medals in wheelchair basketball. The athletes competed with the Colombian team.

The Ukrainian team, playing in this group, defeated the Colombian squad 12-6 in a match held immediately after the games' opening ceremony on February 9, 2025. However, they later faced Afghanistan Unconquered, losing 3-0.

The Invictus Games are international sports competitions among military personnel and veterans who have suffered injuries, wounds, or illnesses during or as a result of their duty. They were founded by the British Prince Harry.

The first Games were held in 2014 in London, and the Ukrainian team first participated in them in 2017.

This year, the first Winter Invictus Games were held in Canada from February 8 to 16. More than 550 wounded soldiers from 25 countries participated. The main squad of the Ukrainian national team includes 35 athletes, all of whom have served in the combat zone in the Russian-Ukrainian war since 2014.

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