Ukraine won its first gold medal in rhythmic gymnastics in 13 years
Ukrainian rhythmic gymnast Taisiia Onofriichuk made history by winning the gold medal in the hoop event at the 2026 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships. For Ukraine, this victory marked its first at a world championship in this sport in the last 13 years.
At the 2026 World Championships, the Ukrainian athlete advanced to three finals.
Her first challenge was the individual all-around competition, where Taisiya fell just short of the podium, finishing in fourth place.
However, in the hoop final, the Ukrainian athlete delivered a flawless performance and received the highest score among all competitors—30.700 points.
2026 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships. Hoop Routine
- Taisiya Onofrychuk (Ukraine) – 30.700
- Sofia Rafaeli (Italy) – 30.500
- Daria Varfolomeev (Germany) – 30.400
For 18-year-old Taisiia Onofriichuk, this award marked her first World Championship gold medal of her career.
At the same time, she ended a long drought for Ukrainian rhythmic gymnastics. The last time a Ukrainian athlete won at the World Championships was in 2013, when Hanna Rizatdinova took the gold medal.
It is noteworthy that back then, the Ukrainian athlete also became world champion in the hoop event.
Taisiia Onofriichuk’s performances at the 2026 World Championships do not end there.
On August 16, the Ukrainian gymnast will compete in another final—the clubs event—where she will have a chance to add another medal to Ukraine’s tally.
This was reported by Sport RBC.UA.
Earlier, 19-year-old Ukrainian athlete Nelly Chukanivska became the European champion in high diving, winning a historic gold medal for Ukraine at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris.
Prior to that, Elina Svitolina advanced to the third round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto. In a grueling match, the Ukrainian defeated Spain’s Jessica Buzas Manero 6-7, 7-6, 6-4. The match lasted nearly three hours, and Svitolina clinched the victory after three tense sets.
Earlier, Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina advanced to the quarterfinals of the WTA 500 tournament in Washington. In the round of 16, she defeated Polina Kudermetova, who previously represented Russia and now plays for Uzbekistan. Following this victory, the Ukrainian continues her quest for the title on American courts.
