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Vitaliy Lukyanenko, guided by Borys Babar, did not have the best start to the season as he could only grab one bronze across two World Cups in the men’s biathlon vision impaired.
But what the Ukrainian especially enjoys is competing on the biggest stage of all. At PyeongChang 2018, Lukyanenko took his fifth and sixth Winter Paralympic titles in the sprint and long distance races.
Four years before, he claimed two golds and one bronze in biathlon and one cross-country silver in Sochi.
Lukyanenko had to undergo surgery shortly afterwards and stopped skiing for two years. In 2016, his teammates convinced him to return to competition.
Despite holding six golds, one silver and two bronze at the Paralympic Winter Games, Lukyanenko has yet to seal a world title.
He has won six silvers and three bronze in biathlon, and one silver and three bronze in cross-country skiing across six editions of the World Championships.
Prince George 2019 will present another good opportunity for Lukyanenko to finally achieve his long-time goal.
Biography
Impairment information
Type of Impairment
Vision impairment
Origin of Impairment
Congenital
Guide
Borys Babar, UKR
Further personal information
Family
Son Yury, daughter Anastasia
Languages
Russian, Ukrainian
Higher education
Sport Studies - Kharkiv State Academy of Physical Education: Ukraine
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
He began skiing in 1987 in Sumy, Ukraine. In 1997 he started training at the Invasport sport centre for Para athletes in Sumy.
Why this sport?
"During my childhood, biathlon was a very fashionable sport."
International debut
Year
1997
Competing for
Ukraine
Tournament
World Cup
Location
Switzerland
General interest
Injuries
In 2009 he dislocated his shoulder. In December of the same year he injured his back during a training session in Canada. (kp.ua, 18 Mar 2010)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"Don't underestimate your rival." (Athlete, 07 Mar 2018)
Awards and honours
He was named one of the six best Ukrainian athletes of the year in 2018 at the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine Sports Constellation annual award ceremony. (isport.ua, 21 Dec 2018)
In December 2018 he was named an Honourable Citizen in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. (oblrada.kharkov.ua, 06 Dec 2018)
He was flag bearer for Ukraine at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (pyeongchang2018.com, 09 Mar 2018)
In recognition of his achievements at the Paralympic Winter Games in 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018, he was decorated with three national Orders for Merits, the Order for Courage [third grade] and the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise [fifth grade] in Ukraine. (president.gov.ua, 29 Mar 2018, 23 Aug 2014; paralympic.org.ua, 08 Mar 2010)
He has received the title of Honoured Master of Sport in Ukraine. (dsmsu.gov.ua, 31 May 2018)
In December 2018 he was named an Honourable Citizen in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. (oblrada.kharkov.ua, 06 Dec 2018)
He was flag bearer for Ukraine at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (pyeongchang2018.com, 09 Mar 2018)
In recognition of his achievements at the Paralympic Winter Games in 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018, he was decorated with three national Orders for Merits, the Order for Courage [third grade] and the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise [fifth grade] in Ukraine. (president.gov.ua, 29 Mar 2018, 23 Aug 2014; paralympic.org.ua, 08 Mar 2010)
He has received the title of Honoured Master of Sport in Ukraine. (dsmsu.gov.ua, 31 May 2018)
Other sports
He competed in both cross-country skiing and biathlon at the Paralympic Winter Games in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014. (fakty.ua, 23 Mar 2018; SportsDeskOnline, 15 Mar 2014)
Impairment
He started losing his sight at age five due to optic atrophy. (fakty.ua, 01 Apr 2010)
Other information
HIATUS
After competing at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, he required surgery and did not train for around two years. In 2016 his teammates convinced him to return to the sport ahead of the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (fakty.ua, 23 Mar 2018)
After competing at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, he required surgery and did not train for around two years. In 2016 his teammates convinced him to return to the sport ahead of the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (fakty.ua, 23 Mar 2018)
Results
| Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 7.5 km Blind | Final Round | 11 | ||
| Men's 1x2.5/2x5 km Relay Open | Final Round | 5 | ||
| Men's 20 km Free Technique Visually impaired | Final Round | 16 | ||
| Men's 10 km Free Technique B3 | Final Round | 4 | ||
| Men's 5 km Classical Technique B3 | Final Round | 3 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 5 km Visually impaired | Final Round | 7 | ||
| Men's 10 km Visually impaired | Final Round | 9999 | ||
| Men's 20 km Visually impaired | Final Round | 9999 | ||
| Men's 1x3.75/2x5 km Relay Open | Final Round | 3 | ||
| Men's 7.5 km Blind | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Men's 12.5 km Blind | Final Round | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 1 km Sprint Visually impaired | Semifinal | 5 | ||
| Men's 10 km Visually impaired | Final Round | 9999 | ||
| Men's 1x4 / 2x5 km Relay Open | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Men's 12.5 km Individual Visually impaired | Final Round | 3 | ||
| Men's 3 km Pursuit Visually impaired | Qualification | 1 | ||
| Men's 3 km Pursuit Visually impaired | Final Round | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Sprint - Classic VI | Final | 2013-02-25 | 9 | |
| Men's Short Distance VI | Final | 2013-02-28 | 5 | |
| Men's Middle Distance VI | Final | 2013-03-01 | 2 | |
| Men's Long Distance VI | Final | 2013-03-03 | 2 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 7.5 km Visually Impaired | Final Round | 2014-03-08 | 1 | |
| Men's 12.5 km Visually Impaired | Final Round | 2014-03-11 | 1 | |
| Men's 15 km Visually Impaired | Final Round | 2014-03-14 | 3 | |
| 4x2.5 km Open Relay | Final Round | 2014-03-15 | 2 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Middle Distance VI | Final | 2017-02-11 | 4 | |
| Men's Long Distance VI | Final | 2017-02-14 | 3 | |
| Men's Sprint VI | Final | 2017-02-18 | 4 | |
| Men's Middle Distance - Free Style VI | Final | 2017-02-19 | 12 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 7.5km Visual Impaired | Final | 2018-03-10 | 1 | |
| Men's 12.5km Visual Impaired | Final | 2018-03-13 | 4 | |
| Men's 15km Visual Impaired | Final | 2018-03-16 | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Middle Distance VI | Final | 2019-02-16 | 2 | |
| Men's Sprint VI | Final | 2019-02-20 | 5 | |
| Men's Long Distance VI | Final | 2019-02-21 | 1 |