The 2026 Paralympic Winter Games featured a mixed relay event in para-nordic skiing, where ten teams competed, including Ukraine. The Ukrainian team comprised athletes Pavlo Bal, Taras Rady, Oleksandra Kononova, and Liudmyla Liashenko, each tasked with completing a distance of 2.5 kilometers before passing the baton to their teammate.
Pavlo Bal kicked off the relay for Ukraine, finishing his segment in third place, trailing the German competitor by 25.1 seconds. His strong performance set the stage for the subsequent athletes.
Next, Taras Rady took over and managed to close the gap significantly, ultimately leading the team into first place by a margin of 29 seconds. His effort was pivotal in shifting the momentum in favor of Ukraine.
Oleksandra Kononova maintained the lead during the third leg of the relay. However, in the final stretch, Liudmyla Liashenko, who had been leading, was overtaken in the last moments of the race, resulting in a second-place finish for Ukraine.
The final standings for the mixed relay were as follows:
- USA — 23:24.2
- Ukraine — +12.5 seconds
- China — +32.3 seconds
This silver medal marks Ukraine’s first achievement in para-nordic skiing at the 2026 Paralympic Games. Prior to this event, the Ukrainian team had only secured medals in para-biathlon competitions during the Games.
Ukraine's mixed relay team earned a silver medal in para-nordic skiing at the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. This achievement highlights the team's competitive performance, particularly in the para-biathlon events leading up to this moment.