The Ukrainian national team took first place in the overall standings at the international competition for veteran strength athletes in Semmering, Austria—and Vadym Goncharenko, a veteran and student at the KNUBA Institute for Veterans, won in three disciplines.
The Ukrainian national team took first place overall at the Strong Spirit’s Games, an international competition held on September 25–26 in Semmering, Austria. Among the 242 medals won by the team were three gold medals by Vadym Goncharenko, a veteran and student at KNUBA’s “Architecture of Resilience” Veterans Institute.
For the third consecutive year, the Strong Spirit’s Games have brought together veterans from around the world. This year, representatives from five countries participated in the competition: Ukraine, the United States, Ireland, Estonia, and Bahrain. A total of 159 veterans and military personnel competed for a spot on the national team, and the top 72 traveled to Austria.
The athletes competed in the bench press, rowing on rowing machines, kettlebell snatch, and air bike. Vadym Goncharenko won in all three disciplines:
The Ukrainian national team took first place overall and won most of the team events:
For the veteran community, competitions like these mean more than just medals. They represent a path to recovery, a return to an active life, support from fellow veterans, and the desire to set new, ambitious goals.
Vadym, congratulations on your triple gold! Congratulations to the entire Ukrainian national team on this triumph! Thank you for your inspiring strength!
https://veterano.info/veteran-vadym-honcharenko-try-zolota-strong-spirits-games-2026
