Ukraine rewrites books with record-breaking title

The women's competition at the 2026 European Wrestling Championships in Albania concluded on Friday with a staggering display of dominance by the blue and yellow national team with six gold medals, a silver, and a bronze.

Ukraine finished at the summit of the team standings with 193 points. Türkiye followed in second place with 122 points, while Poland secured third with 114 points.

The emotional heart of the tournament was Mariia Vynnyk in the 59kg division. After eight years of competing at the highest level and accumulating silver and bronze medals, Vynnyk finally climbed the top step of the podium. She defeated Poland's veteran Jowita Wrzesien 8-4 in a final defined by tactical patience.

"It’s actually been a very tough road to this victory," Vynnyk reflected. "I've been training since I was eight and Ive always pictured myself on the podium with a gold medal. Today that dream came true."

The bronze medals in the 59kg category went to Svetlana Lipatova (UWW), who won via fall, and Azerbaijan's Hiunai Hurbanova, who completed the podium with a 7-5 victory.

The gold rush was supported by a series of successful title defences. At 50kg, Oksana Livach secured her third European title by dismantling Turkiye's Evin Demirhan with an 11-0 technical superiority victory. The bronze medals were claimed by Elizaveta Smirnova (UWW) and Romania's Emilia Grigore Vuc.

In the 76kg heavyweight class, Anastasiya Alpyeyeva remained untouchable, defeating Romania's Alexandra Anghel 6-2 to retain naher continental crown. The bronze medals were secured by Martina Kuenz of Austria and France's Kendra Dacher.

The second wave of Ukrainian success featured teenage sensation Mariia Yefremova, who defeated defending champion Maria Prevolaraki (Greece) 2-1 in a tense 53kg final. The bronze medals went to Natalia Malysheva (UWW) and Annika Wendle (Germany).

Meanwhile, Iryna Koliadenko secured her fourth European title at 65kg without conceding a single point, eventually beating Alina Kasabieva (UWW) 9-0 in the final. The bronze medals were awarded to Natalia Kubaty (Poland) and Beyza Akkus (Turkiye).

The historic sixth gold was delivered by Nadiia Sokolovska in the 72kg category, who overcame a four-point deficit to defeat Poland's Wiktoria Choluj 5-3. The bronze medals were claimed by Kristina Bratchikova (UWW) and Buse Tosun (Turkiye).

While Ukraine dominated, other nations produced standout moments. Romania's Andreea Beatrice Ana secured her fourth European gold at 55kg by defeating Ukraine's Liliia Malanchuk 10-0. The bronze medals in this division went to Anastasia Blayvas (Germany) and Tuba Demir (Turkiye). In the 68kg class, Turkiye's Nesrin Bas was crowned champion after Alina Shauchuk (UWW) withdrew due to injury; the bronze medals were won by Tindra Sjoeberg (Sweden) and Kateryna Zelenykh (Romania).

Norway's Grace Bullen, Olympic bronze medallist, provided the most dramatic comeback of the week in the 62kg final. After trailing 9-0 against Amina Tandelova (UWW), Bullen secured a spectacular pin to take the gold. The bronze medals went to Bilyana Dudova (Bulgaria) and Naemi Leistner (Germany).

Finally, Magdalena Glodek Liszewska ended a six-year wait for a Polish gold medal by winning the 57kg title against Elvira Suleyman (Turkiye). The bronze medals were secured by Zhala Aliyeva (Azerbaijan) and Solomiia Vynnyk (Ukraine).