Wednesday, May 23, 2012

London 2012: The Countdown Series: Ukraine

62 days to go until the first day of the London Olympics. Up next on the parade of nations: Ukraine (UKR).


Ukraine has participated in the summer Olympics since 1996; a total of 96 medals were won by Ukranian athletes in the summer games including 28 gold medals.


Perhaps the most successful Ukranian in the summer games is swimmer Yana Klochkova (pictured), who won four gold medals herself in the pool. Klochkova, an individual medley specialist, won twice at Sydney 2000 in the 200m IM and 400m IM (swimming), and would win the same two events again at Athens 2004.

Two Ukranians have two gold medals each in the summer Olympics, and both are gymnasts. Rustham Sharipov won in the men's team all around (gymnastics) at Barcelona 1992 and in the men's parallel bars (gymnastics) at Atlanta 1996. Lilya Podkopaieva won twice on the women's floor exercise and all around (gymnastics) at Atlanta 1996.


Yes folks, the greatest boxers in the world are born in the Olympics. Take Wladimir Klitschko (pictured), as the Ukranian won super-heavyweight (boxing) gold at Atlanta 1996, via defeat of Paea Wolfgramm (TGA) in the final.


The most recent gold medal for Ukraine was by way of Nataliya Dobrynska (pictured), who won the women's heptathlon at Beijing 2008.

As of now, 257 Ukranian athletes are headed to London to compete in these following events: athletics, boxing, cycling, equestrian, judo, modern pentathlon, swimming, taekwondo, weightlifting and wrestling.

Up next: United Arab Emirates. Not that far away from the United States and Great Britain.


No comments:

Post a Comment