The Ukrainian women’s fencing team has clinched a bronze medal in the team foil event at the 2026 European Championships, marking a significant achievement in their competitive history.
The squad, consisting of Daria Mironyuk, Alina Polozyuk, individual champion Olga Sopyt, and Kristina Petrova, showcased their skills throughout the tournament. They began their campaign with a decisive victory over Moldova in the Round of 16, winning 45-31.
In the quarter-finals, the team continued their strong performance by defeating Hungary 45-39. However, they faced a setback in the semi-finals against the reigning European champions, Italy, losing 22-45.
To claim the bronze, Ukraine went up against Spain, who had previously lost to France in the semi-finals. Last year, Spain also reached the bronze medal match but emerged victorious against Poland.
Details of the Bronze Medal Match
- In the first five bouts, the Ukrainian team maintained an impressive lead, achieving four wins and a draw for a score of 21-14. Both Mironyuk and Polozyuk secured two victories each, while Sopyt had a draw against Ariadna Tucker (5-5).
- Sopyt faced a defeat in her second bout, losing 1-2 to Maria Teresa Dias. Despite this, the team held a six-point advantage, which Polozyuk extended to eight after defeating Tucker.
- In the penultimate bout, Dias defeated Mironyuk 9-4, narrowing the gap to three points. However, in the final bout, Sopyt managed to maintain the lead despite a 3-5 loss, concluding the match at 37-36.
Ukrainian Women’s Team Results at Euro 2026
- Round of 16: Moldova 31 – 45 Ukraine (Mironyuk, Petrova, Polozyuk, Sopyt)
- Quarter-Final: Hungary 39 – 45 Ukraine (Mironyuk, Polozyuk, Sopyt)
- Semi-Final: Italy 45 – 22 Ukraine (Mironyuk, Polozyuk, Petrova, Sopyt)
- Bronze Match: Spain 36 – 37 Ukraine (Mironyuk, Sopyt, Polozyuk)
This victory marks the first time Ukraine has secured a medal in the women’s team foil event at the European level. Previously, the team had consistently exited at the quarter-final stage in the last six championships since 2017.
Overall Achievements at Euro 2026
- Gold: Olga Sopyt (foil)
- Bronze: Alina Komashchuk (sabre); Yevhen Makiyenko, Mykhailo Krasyuk, Roman Svičkar, Nikita Koshman (team foil); Daria Mironyuk, Alina Polozyuk, Olga Sopyt, Kristina Petrova (team foil)
The European Championships will conclude on Sunday, June 21, with the men’s foil and women’s sabre team events, where Ukraine will defend its title as reigning champions.
The Ukrainian women's fencing team achieved a historic bronze medal in the team foil event at the 2026 European Championships, showcasing a strong performance throughout the tournament. This marks a significant milestone as it is their first medal in this category at the European level.