Athletes from Lviv region performed successfully at the World Cup stage in Nordic walking, World Cup Štrbské Pleso, Slovakia 2026, held on 19 September in the resort town of Štrbské Pleso at the foot of the High Tatras in Slovakia. Five representatives of the region, competing as part of the Ukrainian national team, claimed a total of five medals.
Around 400 athletes from 12 countries took part in the competition. Participants covered distances of 5, 10 and 20 kilometres. Ukraine was represented at the start by ten athletes, including five from Lviv region.
In the overall standings over the 5 km distance, Iryna Oliinyk from Lviv region took 1st place, while her compatriot Mykola Kulynych won bronze. Over the 10 km distance, victory went to Anna Kukhar from Khmelnytskyi region.
Athletes from Lviv region also distinguished themselves in the age-group categories. Oksana Zalisko won the 5 km race in her age group, and Ihor Buhryn finished first over 20 km.
Roman Khimiak, Director of the Department of Sport, Youth and Tourism of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, noted that Iryna Oliinyk is Deputy Director of the Lviv Regional Centre “Sport for All” and throughout the year organises numerous sporting events for different groups of the population, engaging thousands of people in an active lifestyle.
“Iryna Oliinyk is Deputy Director of the Lviv Regional Centre ‘Sport for All’. Throughout the year she organises competitions in many sports for different categories of the population, engaging thousands of people in sport. It is highly significant that at the same time Iryna herself lives and breathes sport, takes part in competitions, and wins awards on the international and national stage. This motivates others to lead an active lifestyle and only underlines how important this work is for her personally” — Roman Khimiak
The Lviv Regional Military Administration emphasises that the success of the athletes on the international stage helps to popularise Nordic walking in the region and encourages residents to engage in regular physical activity.