A Ukrainian will take part in the new Danish show DUNK MANIA
The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has announced the launch of a new entertainment format, DUNK MANIA, which will debut at the 2026 3x3 Basketball World Cup in Warsaw. A Ukrainian athlete is scheduled to participate in the show, competing in a slam dunk contest under this new format, which aims to combine athletic competition with the entertainment aspect of the tournament.
DUNK MANIA is positioned not simply as a slam dunk contest, but as a full-fledged next-generation sports and entertainment show. The organizers promise to combine spectacular dunks, team rivalry, show elements, music, fan interaction, and eye-catching content for social media.
The new format will differ significantly from classic individual dunk contests. In Warsaw, spectators will witness a team competition where not only the difficulty of the dunks but also creativity, interaction among participants, and the overall staging of the performances will be key.
Krivenko will compete on Team Grabo, captained by one of Poland’s most famous dunkers, Piotr “Grabo” Grabowski. The third member of the team will be China’s Chen Den Xin.
They will face off against Team Joel, led by British player Joel King Henry. The team also includes American Chris Staples and Norwegian Bartosz Szwed.
For Dmytro Kryvenko, participating in DUNK MANIA will be another opportunity to represent Ukraine on the international 3x3 basketball stage. The Ukrainian has long been one of Europe’s most famous freestyle dunkers and regularly participates in prestigious international shows and competitions.
FIBA also announced that DUNK MANIA will become a long-term project within the framework of global 3x3 tournaments. The winning team of the Warsaw show will automatically secure a spot in the next edition, which will take place in Singapore in 2027.
We should add that the Ukrainian women’s national team, which is currently training in Kaunas, will compete in the 3x3 Basketball World Cup in Warsaw.
As a reminder, Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven announced that he would file an official protest following his loss to WBC, WBA, and IBF heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk. The athlete was dissatisfied with the referee’s decision to stop the fight in the final seconds of the 11th round.
Former undisputed super welterweight world champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez commented on the bout between Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven, which took place in Giza, Egypt.
Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven commented on his bout against Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk, in which he suffered a defeat.
Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk defeated Dutchman Rico Verhoeven by technical knockout in the 11th round and successfully defended his heavyweight championship belts.
