The Head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration and Chief of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration, Vadym Filashkin, announced that Maria Yefremova from Bakhmut won the gold medal for Ukraine at the European U20 Wrestling Championships in Skopje.
A student of the Donetsk Regional School of Higher Sports Excellence and the Donetsk Regional Specialized Sports College, Maria confidently advanced through the tournament in the 55 kg weight category.
She won all five of her matches, defeating opponents from Estonia, North Macedonia, Moldova, and Poland, before defeating her opponent from Russia 10–1 in the final.
After her victory, Maria completed a lap of honor carrying the Ukrainian flag. For an athlete from Bakhmut, a city devastated by Russia's aggression, the victory carries special significance.
This is Maria's second U20 European Championship gold medal. Earlier this year, in May, she also won her first senior European Championship title.