According to Serbian Economist, the World Freediving Championships were held in a pool in Futog, a suburb of Novi Sad. The tournament took place from June 9 to 15 and brought together more than 250 athletes from 34 countries across all continents.
At the championships, athletes competed in several disciplines: who could swim the farthest underwater without fins, with two fins, with a monofin, and who could stay underwater the longest without moving.
One of the championship’s standout performers was Polish athlete Mateusz Malina. He won gold in the no-fins underwater swim with a distance of 244 m and set a new CMAS world record. On the final day, he also won the finned swim, covering 322.5 m.
Among the women, Croatian Mirela Kardašević was one of the standout competitors. She won the two-fins swimming event with a distance of 278.5 m and set a new absolute world record. Kardašević also won gold in the fins swimming event, where she achieved a distance of 288 m.
Polish athlete Julia Kozerska won the women’s no-fins swimming event, covering 211 m. The competition in this event was particularly close: Mirela Kardašević took second place with a result of 210.5 m, and third place went to Magdalena Solich-Talanda of Poland with a result of 210 m.
In the men’s static apnea discipline, Poland’s Damian Watrach won with a time of 9 minutes and 36 seconds.
In the women’s division, Germany’s Heike Schwerdtner won gold, staying underwater for 9 minutes and 39 seconds and setting a new CMAS world record.
Ukraine was also represented at the championship. Among the competitors was one of Ukraine’s strongest freedivers, Kateryna Sadurska. In the Masters category, Sadurska took first place with a result of 181 meters.
The tournament brought together the strongest athletes, set several world and continental records, and provided Serbia with a notable international sporting event.
The competition was organized by CMAS—the World Confederation of Underwater Activities. This is an international federation that unites various types of underwater sports, including freediving.
Freediving is underwater swimming while holding one’s breath without scuba gear.
The Ukrainian national team won 43 medals at the Marine Corps & Air Force Trials 2026 international sports competition in the United States, according to the Ministry of Veterans Affairs.
“The Ukrainian team, which included 13 male veterans and two female veterans, showed one of the best results of the competition, winning 43 medals. The defenders won 27 gold medals in running, swimming, powerlifting, discus throwing, shot put, cycling, and rowing, as well as a team gold medal in volleyball,” the ministry said in a statement.
In addition, the team won eight silver medals and two team silver medals in wheelchair rugby and archery, as well as six bronze medals in running, discus, shooting, and swimming.
The Marine Corps & Air Force Trials is one of the key international tournaments for military personnel and veterans after injuries, bringing together participants from different countries. Along with Ukraine, partner teams from Canada, Australia, and Great Britain were also invited to participate.
As reported, the Ukrainian national team won a record 76 medals at the United States Air Force Trials 2024 sports competition in Las Vegas (USA).
ATHLETE, COMPETITION, Marine Corps & Air Force Trials, MEDAL, ветеран
Ukrainian athletes have already received 20 licenses in five sports for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo (Italy), according to the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine (NOC).
“Exactly one month until the start of the main event of the quadrennium! At the moment, Ukrainian athletes have won 20 licenses in five sports (biathlon — 10, cross-country skiing — 5, alpine skiing — 2, short track — 2, figure skating — 1),” the NOC said in a statement.
It is noted that there are still 12 days left until the end of the qualification period — until January 18.
As reported, at the 2026 Winter Olympics (February 6-22) in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo (Italy), athletes will compete for 195 medals in 16 Olympic sports.
The president of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Ukraine, Vadym Guttsait, expects Ukraine to perform successfully at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo (Italy), as it did at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris (France). Ukraine won 12 medals and ranked 22nd in the medal count at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Ukraine supports the proposal of Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani to establish a truce during the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Minister of Youth and Sports Matvey Bedny expects the “necessary minimum” number of licenses for Ukrainian athletes to participate in the 2026 Olympics in Italy, and also says that there is hope for success in freestyle skiing and biathlon.
Ukrainian athlete Yaroslava Maguchikh has been named the World Athlete of the Year in the category of female athletes competing in non-running disciplines, the National Olympic Committee (NOC) has announced.
“This year was a special one for Yaroslava: she became an Olympic champion; set a world record in the high jump (2.10 m); became a European champion; won the Diamond League final,” the NOC wrote in a telegram.
Jaroslawa Maguchikh has already won the award for the world’s best athlete in the Rising Star category.
This year’s award ceremony took place in Monaco.
Ukrainian athlete and high jumper Yaroslava Maguchikh has been officially recognized as the best athlete in Europe in 2024. She received her award at the Golden Tracks ceremony held in Skopje (North Macedonia), reports Suspilne Sport.
It is noted that in the 2024 season, Maguchikh set a new world record in the discipline – 2.10 meters, and added to it her debut Olympic gold, the title of European champion and the third consecutive Diamond League title.
The top three in the women’s category also included runners Femke Bohl of the Netherlands and Great Britain’s Keeley Hodgkinson.
“This was the most successful season for me. Many dreams came true: a world record and Olympic gold for Ukraine,” Maguchikh said during the ceremony.
Based on the results of her historic season, Maguchikh is also in the running for the world’s best athlete in non-running disciplines: World Athletics will announce the three finalists in early November.
Ukrainian athlete Olena Kostevych won golden medal at the European Shooting Championship in 10m Air Pistol Women in Norway.
“At the European Shooting Championship, Ukrainian athlete Olena Kostevych won gold! Thank you for the victory, thank you for the emotions, thank you that during the war we can still be proud of the results,” the press service of the Ministry of Youth and Sports said in a statement.
