Ukrainian canoeist Liudmyla Luzan has won the “Athlete of the Year” nomination as part of the 30th anniversary season of the nationwide “Person of the Year 2025” programme.
Liudmyla Luzan is an Honoured Master of Sport of Ukraine, a three-time Olympic medallist, a multiple world and European canoeing champion, and one of the most decorated Ukrainian athletes of the modern era.
She was born on 27 January 1997 in Ivano-Frankivsk. She began her sporting career in artistic gymnastics, to which she devoted ten years and earned the title of Master of Sport of Ukraine. It was gymnastics that instilled in her the discipline, endurance and diligence that later became the foundation of her success in canoeing.
After switching to canoeing, Liudmyla’s first coach was Serhii Batomunkoiev, who recognised the athlete’s considerable potential. She later continued training under Mykola Matsapura, an Honoured Coach of Ukraine. Liudmyla represents Poltava Region and the city of Horishni Plavni.
One of the major milestones in her sporting career was the Tokyo Olympic Games, where Luzan won a silver medal in the women’s canoe double 500 metres and a bronze medal in the women’s canoe single 200 metres. At the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, she won another Olympic medal, confirming her status as one of the world’s leading canoeists.
Liudmyla Luzan remains one of the leaders of Ukraine’s national team and competes successfully in both individual and team events.
For her outstanding sporting achievements and contribution to the development of Ukrainian sport, she has received state honours. Luzan is a full bearer of the Order of Princess Olga and has also been awarded the Order of Merit.
Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the athlete has continued to represent Ukraine at the world’s largest international competitions. Her performances and victories make it possible to raise the Ukrainian flag regularly at the world’s leading sporting arenas.
In addition to her professional career, Liudmyla promotes canoeing, motivates young people to participate in sport, takes part in social and charitable initiatives, and supports the development of Ukrainian sport.
Luzan is currently preparing for her third Olympic Games. She names winning Olympic gold for Ukraine as her main sporting goal.
The awarding of the “Athlete of the Year” title to Liudmyla Luzan took place as part of the 30th anniversary season of the “Person of the Year” programme, which annually honours Ukrainians for their professional achievements, civic stance and contribution to the development of the state.
I would like to draw attention to one detail before publication: there is a discrepancy in the source text you provided — in the introduction, Luzan is described as a four-time world champion, while later she is described as an eight-time world champion. Therefore, in this version, I deliberately wrote “multiple world champion” so as not to perpetuate a potentially incorrect figure. If you wish, I can separately verify the current number of her titles following the 2025 season and provide the exact figure.
Open4Business is an information partner of the nationwide “Person of the Year 2025” programme.
