Strong Spirit’s Games-2025: Ukrainian veterans won 243 medals at the competitions in Madrid
The Strongman Federation of Ukraine, together with the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, organized and held the International Veteran Sports Competition “Strong Spirit’s Games-2025” in the capital of the Kingdom of Spain – the city of Madrid. In total, more than 100 military veterans from Ukraine, Spain, Ireland, Estonia and the United States of America took part in the international competitions of war veterans, which were held for the second year in a row. The Ukrainian delegation consisted of 66 participants.
The members of the official Ukrainian team “Strong Spirit’s Games” are military personnel and veterans who suffered injuries, wounds or illnesses while performing their duties in the combat zone and while defending the Motherland and who won the highest rating in their category of nosologies in the mobile application “Trenvet” according to the results of the 2025 adaptive sports competition season organized by the NGO “FSU” and the Ministry of Veterans.
The official opening ceremony of the competition was attended by the Deputy Minister for Veterans Affairs of Ukraine Farkhad Farkhadov, the representative of the Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Human Rights in the Kingdom of Spain Lucia Zadorozhna, the Secretary of the General Directorate of Physical Education and Sports of the Spanish Civil Guard, Colonel Carlos Gil de Mateo, the four-time winner of the title "World Strongest Man", the chief judge of the competition Magnus ver Magnusson and the President of the Strongman Federation of Ukraine Serhiy Konyushok.
Within the framework of the international competition "Strong Spirit's Games", the participants competed in individual competitions in 9 adaptive sports disciplines: bench press (60, 100 kg and maximum among men, 30 and 50 kg among women), rowing on the "Concept-2" simulator for 100 meters and in 100 seconds, air bike, snatch and kettlebell press weighing 16 and 24 kg. In addition, team rowing competitions on the “Concept-2” simulator were held in three types of programs - among men, women and mixed teams.
Ukrainian veterans won a total of 243 medals of various types at the “Strong Spirit`s Games”: 108 gold, 82 silver and 53 bronze awards.
On the second day of the competition program, the World Strongman Championship was held in Madrid among men (separate tournaments for amateurs and professionals) and women. Men competed in four weight categories - up to 80, 95, 110 and over 110 kg. Women competed in three weight groups - up to 60, 75 and over 75 kg. The total number of participants was over 60 athletes, including four Ukrainian military veterans. The achievements of Ukrainian strongmen at the world championship are 5 gold and 1 silver awards.
Organizers of the international competition “Strong Spirit’s Games”: NGO “Strongman Federation of Ukraine” and the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine.
General partner of the 2025 season of veteran competitions is the tourist complex “Bukovel”.
The main media partner of the competition: 1+1 media together with the UNIAN news agency and the 2+2 TV channel.
“Strong Spirit’s Games” are international comprehensive competitions in adaptive sports for veterans of combat operations with and without injuries, organized by Ukraine (directly by NGO “FSU” in partnership and with the assistance of other institutions).
“Strong Spirit’s Games” are international comprehensive competitions in adaptive sports for veterans of combat operations with and without injuries.
The goal of “Strong Spirit’s Games” is to organize a system of various levels of sports competitions for veterans in Ukraine and abroad.
The main essence of holding international sports competitions “Strong Spirit’s Games” is to provide an opportunity for veterans to demonstrate their physical strength, agility and willpower through sports competitions. These games also contribute to maintaining and increasing the self-esteem of these heroes and help them find internal motivation.
Within the framework of the competitions, veteran athletes compete in 9 sports disciplines among 13 nosological groups.
Nosological groups of participants:
R0 – mild injury of one hand (mild injuries of both hands) – without limitation of functionality;
R1 – amputation or severe injury of one hand (mild injuries of both hands);
R2 – amputation or severe injury of both hands, which affects the functionality of the limbs;
N0 – minor injury to one leg (minor injuries to both legs) – no limitation of movement;
N1 – amputation (below the knee) or severe injury to one leg (limitation of movement on the legs);
N1.1 – amputation (above the knee) of one leg;
N2 – amputation or severe injury to both legs (limitation of movement on the legs);
N2.2. – amputation or severe injury to both legs above the knee;
S1 – vision loss of more than 80%;
W0 – spinal injuries affecting gait;
W1 – wheelchair athlete or spinal injury associated with movement;
H1 – practically healthy athletes with minor injuries and wounds;
H2 – athletes without amputations and severe injuries, but with significant damage to internal organs.
