Ukrainian taekwondo fighter Volodymyr Bystrov became the vice-champion of Europe in the weight category up to 68 kg. Bystrov's award was the first for the Ukrainian national team at this year's Euro.
The 2026 European Taekwondo Championship is being held in Munich, Germany. Already on the first day of the competition, the Ukrainian national team was able to open the medal tally at the current championship. The first medal at Euro-2026 was won by Volodymyr Bystrov in the weight category up to 68 kg.
On the way to the final in the weight category up to 68 kg Bystrov won four victories. The Ukrainian taekwondo fighter began his performance with a minimal victory over the representative of Iran Erfan Moradi (2:1). In the second round, Bystrov defeated the Bosnian Muhamed Jonko, and in the quarterfinal match he defeated the Frenchman Theo Lucien with a score of 2:0.
In the semifinals, the Ukrainian taekwondo fighter met with the British Matthew Howell, whom he also defeated 2:1. However, in the decisive battle for the “gold” Bystrov lost to the Turkish athlete Berkay Herer (0:2). Thus, Volodymyr won the “silver” of Euro-2026, winning his second consecutive medal at the European Championships. In 2024, he became the bronze medalist of the continental championship.
On the second day of competition, Ukraine added another medal to its assets – Kyrylo Gurnov won silver in the 80 kg weight category.
Since the start of the continental championship, Gurnov, who was seeded second, has won three times. First, the Ukrainian defeated Czech Adam Jochman 2:0, then he defeated Serbian Rustam Odinaev with the same score. And in the semifinals, Kyrylo proved to be stronger than the representative of Greece, Yannis Papadopoulos.
Gurnov's opponent in the match for the “gold” was the first-seeded taekwondo player, Raman Turavinau from Bulgaria. In the end, the Ukrainian failed to defeat his opponent – a 0:2 defeat. Thus, Kirill brought Ukraine its second “silver” at Euro-2026 in taekwondo. For Gurnov himself, this medal is the first at the adult European Championship.