Olena Kostevych

1.1. Birth and childhood

Olena Kostevych was born on April 14, 1985, in Khabarovsk, which was then part of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic in the Soviet Union. She later relocated to Chernihiv, Ukraine, which is her mother's hometown.

1.2. Education

Kostevych pursued her higher education at the Chernihiv State Technological University in Chernihiv. This period of her life combined academic pursuits with the rigorous training necessary for her blossoming shooting career.

2.1. Early career and first successes

Kostevych began her competitive career around 2000. Her talent quickly became evident, leading to significant early achievements. At the age of 17, she burst onto the international scene by winning the 10 meter air pistol event at the 2002 ISSF World Shooting Championships held in Lahti, Finland. Following this breakthrough, she continued her winning streak by securing victory in the 2003 ISSF World Cup Final. These initial successes established her as a formidable competitor in the world of shooting sports.

2.2. Olympic Games

Olena Kostevych has been a consistent presence at the Summer Olympics, earning multiple medals for Ukraine.

At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Kostevych achieved her most significant Olympic success, winning the gold medal in the 10 metre air pistol event with a score of 384 in qualification and 99.3 in the final. She also competed in the 25 metre pistol, finishing 27th with a score of 569.

Her participation in the 2008 Summer Olympics saw her place 26th in the 25 metre pistol event with a score of 575 and 31st in the 10 metre air pistol with 378 points.

At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Kostevych earned two bronze medals. She secured a bronze in the 10 metre air pistol, scoring 387 in qualification and 99.6 in the final. She followed this by winning another bronze in the 25 meter pistol competition with a total score of 788.6.

The 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro did not yield any medals for Kostevych, where she placed 28th in the 10 metre air pistol with 378 points and 22nd in the 25 metre pistol with a score of 575.

At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, held in July 2021, Kostevych achieved 4th place in the individual 10 metre air pistol competition with a final score of 197.6. On July 27, 2021, she partnered with Oleh Omelchuk to win a bronze medal in the mixed 10 metre air pistol team event.

The following table summarizes her Olympic results:

2.3. World and European Championships

Beyond the Olympics, Kostevych has accumulated an impressive collection of medals at World and European Championships.

She has earned **two gold, two silver, and two bronze medals** at the ISSF World Shooting Championships:

• Gold: 10 m air pistol (2002 Lahti), 25 m pistol (2018 Changwon)
• Silver: 10 m air pistol (2014 Granada), 25 m pistol (2023 Baku)
• Bronze: 10 m air pistol mixed team (2018 Changwon), 25 m standard pistol mixed team (2022 Cairo)

In the European Shooting Championships, Kostevych has achieved a remarkable **seven gold, nine silver, and five bronze medals**:

• Gold: 10 m air pistol (2015 Arnhem, 2016 Győr, 2022 Hamar), 25 m pistol team (2015 Maribor), 10 m air pistol mixed team (2019 Osijek, 2024 Győr), 10 m air pistol team (2021 Osijek)
• Silver: 10 m air pistol (2003 Gothenburg, 2004 Győr, 2012 Vierumäki, 2017 Maribor), 10 m air pistol mixed team (2016 Győr), 10 m air pistol team (2019 Osijek, 2024 Győr), 25 m standard pistol mixed team (2019 Bologna), 25 m pistol team (2022 Wrocław)
• Bronze: 10 m air pistol (2011 Brescia), 25 m pistol (2015 Maribor), 10 m air pistol mixed team (2013 Odense, 2018 Győr), 50 m pistol mixed team (2019 Bologna)

2.4. Other international competitions

Kostevych's success extends to other major international multi-sport events, where she has also secured a significant number of medals.

At the European Games, she has won **one gold and two bronze medals**:

• Gold: 25 m pistol team (2023 Kraków-Małopolska)
• Bronze: 25 m standard pistol mixed team (2019 Minsk), 10 m air pistol (2023 Kraków-Małopolska)

Her performances at the Universiade include **three gold, two silver, and four bronze medals**:

• Gold: 10 m air pistol team (2007 Bangkok), 25 m pistol team (2011 Shenzhen), 25 m pistol (2013 Kazan)
• Silver: 10 m air pistol (2007 Bangkok), 25 m pistol team (2013 Kazan)
• Bronze: 25 m pistol team (2007 Bangkok), 10 m air pistol (2011 Shenzhen), 25 m pistol (2011 Shenzhen), 10 m air pistol team (2011 Shenzhen)

2.5. Records

Olena Kostevych established a notable Ukrainian record in the 10 meter air pistol event with a score of 394. This score was at one point one point higher than the then-standing world record.

3.1. Personal life

Olena Kostevych was born in Khabarovsk, Soviet Union, but later moved to Chernihiv, Ukraine, her mother's hometown. As of recent reports, she resides in Austria.

3.2. Sports administration and representation

Kostevych has taken on roles in sports administration, reflecting her dedication to the broader sporting community. On December 7, 2022, she was elected as the first deputy of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine for the Chernihiv Oblast region, demonstrating her commitment to sports development at a regional level. Additionally, her standing as a prominent Ukrainian athlete led to her being chosen as a flag bearer for Ukraine at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, sharing the honor with Bohdan Nikishyn.