Olympics 2026: February 15 — two chances for Ukraine in giant slalom and biathlon
Today at the Milan–Cortina arenas Ukrainian athletes will vie for visibility and tournament points: Anastasiia Shepilenko in the giant slalom and a five-strong biathlon contingent in the pursuit. Schedule, start numbers and why these starts are important for the national team.
By Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik
February 15, 2026 · 2 min read
Why you should pay attention
February 15 is a day when the Ukrainian team has two arenas to showcase results. For us, this is not only potential points in the medal table, but also an important indicator of the athletes' readiness in the season after the trials. UNN, citing the NOC, provides the official schedule and start numbers.
Who is competing and when
Alpine skiing — giant slalom (women)
11:00 — first run. Wearing number 46 will be Anastasiia Shepilenko.
14:30 — final (based on the results of the first run).
Biathlon — pursuit
12:15 — men. Vitaliy Mandzyn — bib number 24 (gap +1:47), Dmytro Pidruchnyi — bib number 27 (gap +1:55).
15:45 — women. Yuliia Dzhima — bib number 24 (+1:35), Oleksandra Merkushyna — bib number 42 (+2:11), Khrystyna Dmytrenko — bib number 55 (+2:24).
Context: what the format and starting gaps mean
The pursuit is a format in which starting gaps from previous races determine the start order. This allows athletes to chase down rivals or defend position tactically: clean shooting and the right distribution of effort over the course often matter more than outright speed. So a deficit of several dozen seconds is not a verdict — but it is also no guarantee of success.
What's at stake
For the Ukrainian team, every successful Olympic performance is not only an athlete's personal achievement but also a signal to federations, sponsors and public support. Today's results can influence the team's motivation and the further allocation of resources during the season.
Small, but human details
According to UNN, Oleksandra Merkushyna had an off-course incident — she broke an Olympic gift she had received (a phone). This is more of an oddity that should not call her readiness into question, but it serves as a reminder of the tension and attention surrounding athletes during the Games.
Summary and outlook
Today's starts are an opportunity for Ukrainian athletes to raise their visibility at the Olympics and confirm their competitiveness. Analysts note that in the pursuit format, tactics and psychological resilience often decide the outcome. Fans' support and professional micro-preparation can turn a starting position into a real sporting breakthrough.
