For the first time, Ukraine took the highest place in the team event at the Winter Deaflympic Games.

President Vladimir Zelensky held a meeting with athletes of the national deflympic team of Ukraine, which won 19 medals at the XX Winter Deaflympics in the Turkish city of Erzurum. This was reported by the press service of the head of state.

It is noted that Zelensky awarded the winners and prize-winners of the competition, thanks to which Ukraine for the first time took the highest place in the team competition and received a record number of medals.

The President emphasized that it is an honor for him to celebrate Ukrainian athletes today.

“You add pride to Ukraine, the opportunity to be proud of people, the strength of Ukrainians and powerful Ukrainian achievements,” he emphasized.

Zelensky also noted that such results contribute to returning attention to Ukraine in difficult times of war, especially when it is in a certain way unfocused.

“And everyone who gains the world’s respect for the Ukrainian character and the Ukrainian state helps us all. Helps the people survive. Helps our soldiers at the front survive in the fight for our independence,” the president said.

He congratulated the athletes and their coaches on this extraordinary victorious result.

“Despite all the difficulties, you were able to get the championship for Ukraine. And it’s difficult to appreciate how important this is today. How important it is to have victories for Ukraine. Because that one victory for which we are fighting, our guys and girls give their lives at the front, and big the victory that will definitely happen – it consists of such important days, such victories that you received,” the head of state emphasized.

As Zelensky noted, such a historic result at the Deaflympic Games is yet another proof of how strong our athletes and Ukrainians are, and how Ukrainian character prevails over any challenges and circumstances.

“I thank you all for the will to win, for your ability to overcome difficulties. For all the respect that your results brought to all Ukrainians, the Ukrainian flag, the Ukrainian people. I am extremely proud of you. Glory to Ukraine!” – the president summed up.

Zelensky presented the athletes with the Order of Merit I, II and III degrees, Princess Olga II and III degrees and the medal For Labor and Valor. In turn, the athletes presented the president with a hoodie from the national deflympic team uniform.

Performance of Ukraine at the 2024 Winter Deaflympic Games

For the first time, the Ukrainian deflympic team became the world leader in the team competition in terms of the number of gold medals. At the XX Winter Deaflympic Games, the blue-yellow team won 10 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze medals, which is 8 more awards than in previous similar competitions.

In the individual championship, Ukrainian athletes won 11 medals (6 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze), in the team championship – 8 medals (4 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze).