SKATERS from Ukraine

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Ukrainian Skaters of all time. This list of famous Ukrainian Skaters is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Ukrainian Skaters.

1. Oleg Goncharenko (1931 - 1986)

With an HPI of 47.20, Oleg Goncharenko is the most famous Ukrainian Skater.  His biography has been translated into 16 different languages on wikipedia.

Oleg Georgievich Goncharenko (Russian: Олег Георгиевич Гончаренко, Ukrainian: Олег Георгійович Гончаренко) (18 August 1931 – 16 December 1986), Distinguished Master of Sports of the USSR, was the first male Soviet speed skater to become World Allround Champion. Born in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Oleg Goncharenko made his international debut in 1953 and promptly became World Allround Champion. He would win two more World Allround Championships after that, as well as two European Allround Championships. In 1958, he won the "triple", becoming World, European, and Soviet Allround Champion. At the 1956 Winter Olympics of Cortina d'Ampezzo, Goncharenko won bronze on the 5,000 m and on the 10,000 m. He also participated in the 5,000 m at the 1960 Winter Olympics of Squaw Valley, but finished only sixth. Both at home and abroad, Goncharenko was unusually popular for many years, even long after he had retired from speed skating. After winning his first World Championship in 1953 in Helsinki, he received dozens of telegrams in his hotel room there from all over the Soviet Union and from abroad. One of those telegrams he kept until the end of his life because it was particularly dear to him. It was a short message from the legendary Norwegian speed skater Oscar Mathisen, reading "Congratulations. Oscar Mathisen." – written just one year before Mathisen's death. Goncharenko's achievements also prompted two cities, Denver and Oslo, to name him an honorary citizen. He also was awarded the Order of Lenin. Goncharenko retired from speed skating in 1962. He died in 1986, at the age of 55, after a painful illness.

2. Tatiana Navka (b. 1975)

With an HPI of 42.87, Tatiana Navka is the 2nd most famous Ukrainian Skater.  Her biography has been translated into 25 different languages.

Tatyana Aleksandrovna Navka (Russian: Татьяна Александровна Навка; born 13 April 1975) is a Russian former competitive ice dancer and the wife of Dmitry Peskov. With her dance partner Roman Kostomarov, she is the 2006 Olympic champion, a two-time World champion (2004–05), a three-time Grand Prix Final champion (2003–05), and a three-time European champion (2004–06). Earlier in her career, she competed for the Soviet Union and Belarus.

3. Aljona Savchenko (b. 1984)

With an HPI of 41.42, Aljona Savchenko is the 3rd most famous Ukrainian Skater.  Her biography has been translated into 29 different languages.

Aljona Savchenko (Ukrainian: Олена Валентинівна Савченко, Olena Valentynivna Savchenko; German Romanization: Aljona Sawtschenko, sometimes Aliona Savchenko; born 19 January 1984) is a retired Ukrainian-born German pair skater. One of the most decorated pair skaters, she is the 2018 Olympic Champion and a two-time Olympic bronze medalist (2010, 2014), a six-time World Champion, a four-time European Champion, and a five-time Grand Prix Final champion. With partner Bruno Massot, she is the 2018 Olympic champion, the 2018 World Champion, a two-time European silver medalist, the 2017–18 Grand Prix Final champion, and a two-time German national champion (2016, 2018). The pair hold the world record for best free skate score and best total score, and they are the first pair skaters to break 160 points in the free skate. With former partner Robin Szolkowy, she is the 2010 and 2014 Olympic bronze medalist, a five-time World champion (2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014), a four-time European champion (2007–2009, 2011), a four-time Grand Prix Final champion (2007, 2010, 2011, 2013), and an eight-time German national champion (2004–2009, 2011, 2014). Savchenko and Szolkowy received the first 10.0 component scores ever given by a judge under the ISU Judging System. Savchenko originally represented Ukraine with Dmitri Boyenko and later Stanislav Morozov. With Morozov, she was the 2000 World Junior champion, the 1999–2000 Junior Grand Prix Final champion, and a two-time Ukrainian national champion. In June 2021, Savchenko unretired to pursue her competitive career in the United States. In September 2021, she announced that, due to having difficulties in the search of a partner, she would be focusing on coaching again.

4. Oksana Baiul (b. 1977)

With an HPI of 41.25, Oksana Baiul is the 4th most famous Ukrainian Skater.  Her biography has been translated into 31 different languages.

Oksana Serhiyivna Baiul-Farina (née Baiul; born November 16, 1977) is a Ukrainian retired competitive figure skater. She is the 1993 world champion and the 1994 Olympic champion in ladies' singles. Baiul is the first Olympic Champion from Ukraine to compete under the Ukrainian flag. Baiul is the second skater representing Ukraine to win gold at the Winter Olympics after Viktor Petrenko in 1992. She is also the first Olympic champion of independent Ukraine in any sport. After winning the gold medal in 1994, Baiul decided to move to the United States and participate in professional ice skating tours and shows. She followed one of her coaches to Connecticut. Later, she also became involved in a variety of TV appearances, and benefit skates. She has lived in the United States since 1994. In 1997, she published two books, a memoir about her life and one on skating.

5. Viktor Petrenko (b. 1969)

With an HPI of 40.72, Viktor Petrenko is the 5th most famous Ukrainian Skater.  His biography has been translated into 21 different languages.

Viktor Vasyliovych Petrenko (Ukrainian: Віктор Васильович Петренко; born 27 June 1969) is a Ukrainian former competitive figure skater who represented the Soviet Union, the Unified Team, and Ukraine during his career. He is the 1992 Olympic Champion for the Unified Team. Petrenko became the first flagbearer for Ukraine. Petrenko moved to the United States in 1994 with his family and associates, living first in Simbury, Connecticut, the site of an international skating center. He works as an International Skating Union (ISU) Technical Specialist, tours professionally, and coaches figure skating.

6. Evgeni Platov (b. 1967)

With an HPI of 38.92, Evgeni Platov is the 6th most famous Ukrainian Skater.  His biography has been translated into 17 different languages.

Evgeni Arkadievich Platov (Ukrainian to English: Ev'heni Arkadievich Platov) (Russian: Евгений Аркадьевич Платов; born August 7, 1967; Ukrainian: Євген Аркадійович Платов) is a Russian former competitive ice dancer. He is best known for his partnership with Oksana Grishuk from 1989 to 1998. With Grishuk, he is a two-time Olympic champion (1994, 1998), four-time World champion (1994–1997), and three-time European champion (1996–1998). With previous partner Elena Krykanova, he was a three-time World Junior champion (1984–1986). During his career, he represented the Soviet Union, the Unified Team, and Russia. Since retiring from competition, he works as a figure skating coach and choreographer.

7. Oksana Grishuk (b. 1974)

With an HPI of 38.91, Oksana Grishuk is the 7th most famous Ukrainian Skater.  Her biography has been translated into 19 different languages.

Oksana (Pasha) Vladimirovna Grishuk (Russian: Оксана (Паша) Владимировна Грищук, Ukrainian: Оксана (Пашу) Володимирівна Грищук; born 17 March 1972) is a Russian former competitive ice dancer. She is best known for her partnership with Evgeni Platov from 1989 to 1998. With Platov, she is a two-time Olympic champion (1994, 1998), four-time World champion (1994–1997), and three-time European champion (1996–1998). With previous partner Alexandr Chichkov, she is the 1988 World Junior champion.

8. Artur Dmitriev (b. 1968)

With an HPI of 37.44, Artur Dmitriev is the 8th most famous Ukrainian Skater.  His biography has been translated into 18 different languages.

Artur Valeryevich Dmitriev (Russian: Артур Валерьевич Дмитриев; born 21 January 1968) is a Russian former pair skater who competed internationally for the Soviet Union, the Unified Team, and Russia. He is a two-time Olympic champion, having won gold with Natalia Mishkutionok in 1992 and with Oksana Kazakova in 1998. He and Mishkutionok also won Olympic silver in 1994. Dmitriev is the only male pair skater to win the Olympics with two different partners.

9. Tatiana Volosozhar (b. 1986)

With an HPI of 33.13, Tatiana Volosozhar is the 9th most famous Ukrainian Skater.  Her biography has been translated into 23 different languages.

Tatiana Andreyеvna Volosozhar (Russian: Татьяна Андреевна Волосожар, Ukrainian: Тетяна Андріївна Волосожар; born 22 May 1986) is a Ukrainian-born Russian pair skater. With Maxim Trankov, she is the two-time 2014 Olympic champion in the pairs and in team events, the 2013 World champion, a four-time (2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016) European champion, the 2012 Grand Prix Final champion, and a three-time (2011, 2013 and 2016) Russian national champion. They have also won six events on the Grand Prix series. Volosozhar competed for Ukraine with Petr Kharchenko in 2000–04 and with Stanislav Morozov in 2004–10. She and Morozov are four-time Ukrainian national champions (2005, 2007, 2008 and 2010) and finished as high as fourth at the World Championships. In December 2010 she was granted expedited Russian citizenship, as both her parents are Russian. Volosozhar and Trankov are the historic World record holders for the short program, before the scoring change in the 2018–19 season. They are the first figure skaters to win two gold medals at the same Olympics, having taken gold in pairs and in the inaugural team event.

10. Ruslan Honcharov (b. 1973)

With an HPI of 32.98, Ruslan Honcharov is the 10th most famous Ukrainian Skater.  His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Ruslan Nikolaevich Goncharov (Russian: Руслан Николаевич Гончаров or Ukrainian: Руслан Миколайович Гончаров Ruslan Mykolayovych Honcharov; born 20 January 1973) is a Ukrainian ice dancer. With partner Elena Grushina, he is the 2006 Olympic bronze medalist, 2005 World bronze medalist, and two-time (2005, 2006) European silver medalist.