Ukrainian sports couple Sofia Golichenko and Artem Darensky held the 2026 European Figure Skating Championships in conditions that the athletes themselves call extreme. Lost luggage, injuries, lack of full training and performances on painkillers directly contributed to the duo's worst result in recent years..

The champions of Ukraine (2022) in pair skating finished the tournament in last, 16th place, although they initially expected to compete for the top 10. According to them, problems began on the way to British Sheffield: lengthy train delays, a difficult route through several countries and the loss of Artem Darensky’s luggage with skates and suits.

As a result, the skater had to go to the start wearing someone else’s skates, the blades of which were installed just a few hours before the skate, and the costume for the short program was assembled literally piece by piece with the help of other athletes.

Due to travel and force majeure, the couple did not go on the ice together for more than four days and skated together for the first time only for a six-minute warm-up before the performance.. The situation was complicated by the injury of Sofia Golichenko, received before the start of the championship and worsened during the tournament. After falling in the short program, the skater experienced severe pain and was forced to perform in the free program on painkillers..

“I went out for rides already on pills and in considerable quantities. They didn’t give me an injection, they gave me painkillers and told me to go. The pain was almost all over my side, back, hip, groin,” Sofia Golichenko said in an interview with Suspilna Sport..

Despite doubts and discussion of possible withdrawal from the free program, Igor Marchenko’s team decided to go to the end.

For the final skate, Darensky’s luggage was nevertheless returned, and the couple was able to perform in their own costumes, however, their physical condition and lack of preparation affected the quality of skating and grades. Over two performances, the Ukrainians scored 126.78 points - they have not shown such low results since September 2022.

Now Golichenko and Darensky are focused on recovery and treatment. According to the skater, doctors temporarily prohibited her from performing jumps due to ligament damage.. The duo’s next goal remains the World Championships in Prague in March, where the Ukrainians expect to perform without injuries or force majeure.