The Department of physical culture and sports of the Donetsk regional state administration continues to summarize the results of the region's athletes' performances at national and international competitions on a monthly basis.
The best athletes of May were determined in three categories: olympic, non-olympic sports, and sports for people with disabilities. The voting was conducted among the expert group of the Department of physical culture and sports of the Donetsk regional state administration and fans on Facebook.
Artem Harbar from Druzhkivka was named athlete of the month among the Olympians. He is an honored master of sports of Ukraine in taekwondo (WTF), a representative of the School of higher sportsmanship in Donetsk oblast. In Germany, he won a bronze medal at the European Championships for adults in the weight category up to 87 kg. The title of “Best coach” was awarded to Artem’s trainer, honored coach of Ukraine Yuriy Biryukov.
The winner of the “Best athlete” category among non-olympic athletes is Danylo Kovalov from Kramatorsk – an honored master of sports of Ukraine in powerlifting. He won four gold medals at the European adult championships in the Czech Republic in the weight category up to 120 kg, and set two world records: in the squat (454 kg) and in the total (1,134 kg). The title of “Best coach” of the Donetsk region in non-olympic sports was awarded to Danylo’s trainers – honored coaches of Ukraine Alyona Bychkova and Oleksiy Bychkov.
In the category “Sports for people with disabilities,” Oleksii Smyrnov from Bakhmut – an honored master of sports of Ukraine in draughts for visually impaired athletes – was recognized. At the World championships in Turkey, he won gold medals in blitz and rapid draughts, and a silver medal in classic draughts.
All athletes and coaches nominated based on May’s results are recipients of scholarships from the Donetsk region state administration in 2026.
We would like to add that, according to the decision of the commission for selecting the best athlete and coach of the month in Donetsk oblast, special awards will be given to athletes who received the most support in a fan poll on Facebook:
- in olympic sports – Polina Dyachenko, master of sports of Ukraine in gymnastics, who won “gold,” “silver,” and two “bronze” medals at international competitions in Azerbaijan;
- in non-olympic sports – Leon Bilytskyi, honored master of sports of Ukraine in kettlebell lifting, four-time winner and silver medalist at the European championships for adults in the in the weight category over 95 kg;
- in sports for people with disabilities – Vladyslav Yepifanov, honored master of sports of Ukraine in para-canoe for athletes with musculoskeletal disorders, World Cup champion in the 200-meter race in the VL3 class.