IWF120y/91 – 2004: Nataliya Skakun, the last Olympic winner for Ukraine
As with the other republics formerly integrated in the immense territory of the Soviet Union, Ukraine began to ‘exist’ independently since the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Before that, lifters born in what is presently Ukraine shone at the Olympic level (as was the case for athletes from Georgia or Armenia), but their successes never counted as a medal for their country. In 1992, we are in a transition phase, and the ‘Soviet’ team is present in Barcelona under the name ‘Unified Team’ – Timur Taymazov is one of the group’s lifters, and earns silver in the Spanish metropolis, with a result of 185-217.5-402.5. Four years later, already under the Ukrainian flag, he will do better, clinching gold in the 108kg category – 195-235-430. Between his two Olympic appearances, he had been the best at two World Championships, in 1993 and 1994. On the women’s side, the sport integrated the Olympic programme in 2000, so female lifters always competed for Ukraine. The most successful one until today was Nataliya Skakun – after a seventh place in Australia, her moment of glory arrives four years later, in Athens 2004. In the 63kg category, she clinches gold in 107.5-135-242.5. Before that, she was the world champion in 2003 (photo), and the best European in 2002. She remains the last Ukrainian lifter with an Olympic victory. Since 1996, and besides the two golds, Ukraine has one silver and two bronze medals at the Games’ level. At the Paris 2024 rendezvous, Kamila Konotop was the only Ukrainian representative, placing seventh in the women’s 59kg category.
