There are victories that go down in sports history forever. And there are victories that become a symbol of the strength of the nation, the unity of the people and the indomitable Ukrainian character.

This was the brilliant victory of the Ukrainian national team at the World Team Strongman Championships, which took place in the city of Benoni (South Africa).

After two years of fighting to return to the top — bronze in 2024 and silver in 2025 — the Ukrainian heroes conquered the world again, winning gold and returning to Ukraine the most honorable title of world sports — “The Strongest Nation on the Planet”.

World Championship Results

• Ukraine

• South Africa

• Zambia

This victory was not only a triumph for the Ukrainian national team. It became another vivid confirmation that Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University educates and unites people who shape the modern history of Ukrainian sports.

The university is particularly proud of the fact that among those who returned Ukraine to world leadership are representatives of the Faculty of Health and Sports.

The faculty was represented in the national team of Ukraine by:

Oleksandr Volodymyrovych Dubovoi - Dean of the Faculty of Health Care and Sports, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Honored Master of Sports of Ukraine, Honored Worker of Physical Culture and Sports of Ukraine, Master of Sports of Ukraine in powerlifting.

Valerii Nadarovych Hazaiev - Captain of the national team of Ukraine, Lecturer of the Department of Olympic and Professional Sports, Honored Coach of Ukraine, Honored Master of Sports of Ukraine, Honored Worker of Physical Culture and Sports of Ukraine.

Yevhenii Nastenko is a graduate of the master's degree in the specialty "Physical Culture and Sports", who, together with the Ukrainian national team, became the world champion in the team event. In individual competitions, the athlete took 4th place in the U105 weight category, confirming his high level among the strongest athletes in the world.

The fact that Oleksandr Volodymyrovych Dubovoi and Valerii Nadarovych Hazaiev were included in the international judging panel of the world championship deserves special respect.

Being a judge of the world championship is not only a great honor, but also international recognition of professional competence, impeccable reputation and long-standing authority. This is another confirmation that representatives of the Faculty of Health Care and Sports enjoy high trust of the world sports community.

Ukraine's fifth world triumph

The 2026 victory was the fifth in the history of the Ukrainian national team's participation in the World Team Strongman Championships.

Ukrainian athletes competed for the title of "The Strongest Nation on the Planet" in:

• 2017

• 2019

• 2021

• 2023

• 2026

This is history written by true champions.

Pride of the university. Pride of the Faculty. Pride of Ukraine.

For the State Institution "Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University", this victory has a special value.

After all, our teachers, leaders and graduates not only pass on knowledge to the younger generation. They demonstrate by their own example that professionalism, many years of work, strength of character and devotion to their country can lead to the highest world achievements.

Today, representatives of the Faculty of Health Care and Sports have once again proven: university education, scientific activity and sports of the highest achievements can be successfully combined, and the Ukrainian sports school remains one of the strongest in the world.

This is a victory of people who do not just represent the university. They represent Ukraine. And they do it so that the Ukrainian flag once again flies above the world pedestal.

We sincerely congratulate Oleksandr Volodymyrovych Dubovoi, Valerii Nadarovych Hazaiev, Yevhenii Nastenko and the entire national team of Ukraine on the historic victory!

We wish you new achievements, good health, inexhaustible energy, new world titles and many more victories that will glorify Ukraine on the international stage.

The Faculty of Health Care and Sports of LTSNU is sincerely proud that among those who returned the title of "The Strongest Nation on the Planet" to Ukraine are our teachers, leaders and graduates. It is these people who create the modern history of Ukrainian sports, strengthen the authority of the state in the world and inspire a new generation of Ukrainian champions.

Faculty of Health Care and Sports