Ukrainian biathletes Dmytro Pidruchnyi and Vitalii Mandzyn expressed concerns regarding the quality of their skis during the men’s pursuit race at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Both athletes competed in the event, with Mandzyn starting in 24th position and finishing 16th, while Pidruchnyi improved from 27th to finish 20th.
Neither athlete managed to complete the shooting stages without penalties, with Mandzyn receiving two penalty laps and Pidruchnyi three. As a result, they had to make up for lost time on the course, where Mandzyn recorded the 18th fastest time and Pidruchnyi the 34th.
In an exclusive interview with Suspilne Sport after the race, both athletes noted that they had aimed for higher placements but were hindered by the ski performance. The team captain highlighted the need for better equipment preparation.
“Regarding the race on the track – things were not as good as they should have been. There were certain issues; the skis were not optimal, and I would have liked better performance.”
Mandzyn elaborated on his experience, mentioning that while the first lap felt strong due to initial energy, he struggled in the subsequent laps without a competitor to pace himself against. He noted that the ski performance declined, impacting his ability to keep up with stronger competitors.
“In terms of skis, there was room for improvement. I felt there could have been better speed. The conditions of the track were quite good, almost ideal, but there was still potential for better preparation.”
Both athletes are still in contention for the mass start event at the Olympics. Additionally, they are set to participate in the men’s relay, as confirmed by head coach Nadiia Bilova.
Ukrainian biathletes Dmytro Pidruchnyi and Vitalii Mandzyn criticized the ski quality after their performances in the pursuit race at the 2026 Olympics. Despite their efforts to improve their standings, equipment issues affected their results.