Ukraine enjoys superpower status in para biathlon. This is reflected in the number of medals won at the Paralympic Games - its athletes have stood on the podium an astonishing 77 times, a feat unmatched by any other national team. Representing a generation of outstanding Ukrainian para biathletes who will soon have the opportunity to add to that legacy is Oleksandra Kononova, a nine-time world champion and mother of two.

Before sport became the defining force in her life, Kononova describes her days as ordinary and, at times, difficult. Sport changed everything. It offered her a chance for a better life - one with a clear goal and the opportunity to pursue it. Her first successes came quickly. At just 19, she was selected for the Paralympic team in Vancouver, where she won gold in the Women’s 12.5km Individual Standing. She also claimed two more victories in cross-country skiing events, becoming one of the biggest stars of the Games.

Her achievements did not go unnoticed. In 2010, she was named Ukrainian Sports Personality of the Year. In Sochi, she defended her Paralympic title in the Individual race, while continuing to build her World Championship record, reaching the podium in nine of the ten editions in which she competed.

At home, Kononova has an entire wall dedicated to her medals. But when she looks at it, she sees more than gold, silver, and bronze.

Due to health problems, Kononova was unable to compete at the 2018 Paralympic Games in PyeongChang. Four years later, in Beijing, she returned to the podium, winning silver in the 10km biathlon race and claiming victory in the 10km cross-country event.

With another Paralympic Games ahead, Kononova remains as driven as ever. Yet the landscape has changed. New, younger athletes are emerging, bringing speed and ambition to the tracks. Despite being 35, she is still firmly in contention for the podium. A year ago, she won the overall Crystal Globe title. During the most recent World Cup competition in Jakuszyce, she triumphed in the Sprint Pursuit - an event set to make its Paralympic debut in Val di Fiemme.

“My goal is to demonstrate a strong level of performance and to create real competition for the young girls whose careers are just beginning. It is already difficult to compete with younger athletes, but it is incredibly special to stand on the podium with them - to feel that I can still compete at a high level and belong among the best,” she says.

As one of the most decorated athletes in Ukrainian sport, Kononova is aware of expectations, both her own and those placed upon her.

“I always expect more from myself. I strive to achieve the best possible result and feel disappointed when things do not go as planned,” she says. “Then I focus on correcting my mistakes and improving. My family believes in me - my children, the people close to me, and my coaches who walk this path toward success with me. They know how difficult this journey can be, what I go through, and the obstacles I face. Their belief gives me strength and sometimes helps me believe in what feels impossible. Because of them, I find the resources and energy to keep moving forward. The hardest thing is not to let them down.”

Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine, representing her country has taken on even deeper meaning.

“The war has changed every Ukrainian,” Kononova says. “War is about survival, about the resilience and strength of an entire nation, about faith and hope. We fight for freedom and independence, for peace for our children. War is pain and suffering, but we will fight for our country and for every podium, for the glory of Ukraine. We are the people of Ukraine. We will stand strong, and we will win.”

Away from the tracks and shooting range, Kononova’s most important role is at home.

“Being both a mother and an elite athlete is very difficult,” she admits. “The responsibility for results is great, but the responsibility for your children is even greater. Training camps and competitions mean time apart, but sport has taught me endurance and the ability to overcome difficulties. We fall, we get up, and we keep going. Motherhood has taught me to accept situations as they are and to be emotionally stronger and more stable. I try to be a good mother. I dedicate as much time as possible to my children.”

For young athletes - with or without disabilities - Kononova offers simple but powerful advice: “Don’t think it will last forever. Use the moment here and now. Take every opportunity into your own hands to stay in this sporting life for as long as possible, if that is your goal.”

And if she could speak to herself at the very beginning of her journey? “You are exactly where you are meant to be.” For Oleksandra Kononova, those words feel less like reassurance and more like a summary of a career built on belief - in herself, in her family, and in her country.

Photos: IBU | Wlaźlak