Odesa I.I. Mechnikov National University

At Odesa Mechnikov National University, the “Physical Education” discipline is built into the curricula of all educational programs. The university annually hosts the “MECHNYKOV STAR FEST” student freshman festival (featuring sports relay races and a general workout routine), the “ONU Autumn Spartakiad” (competitions in table tennis, futsal, and chess held in October), the ONU Volleyball and Basketball Championships (March–May), as well as intramural and departmental tournaments. In 2025, a “Sports and Wellness Week” was conducted within the framework of the university project “Health, Movement, Education” (April 28, 2025 – May 3, 2025); this initiative is slated to become a permanent tradition.

In regional student games among higher education institutions of the III–IV accreditation levels, ONU varsity teams have repeatedly contested in cross-country running, table tennis, fencing, rugby, basketball, volleyball, beach volleyball, chess, wrestling, futsal, karate, and badminton. Students also have the opportunity to attend educational-training sessions within sports sections for wrestling, karate, box, volleyball, chess, and basketball.

ONU higher education students across all degree levels actively participate in the Championships of Ukraine and elite international competitions in swimming, acrobatics, boxing, kickboxing, fencing, chess, beach volleyball, sambo, combat sambo, combat ju-jutsu, and karate. Annually in December, a sports gala is held where the university leadership identifies top-performing athletes and awards them certificates for athletic milestones reached over the past year.

In 2025/2026, ONU student-athletes demonstrated outstanding results, capturing medals at the Championships of Ukraine, Europe, and the World:

Fencing: V. Morenets-Kubanska (Champion of Ukraine, medalist of the European Sabre Fencing Championship);

Acrobatics: Mariia Dukhnevych (Medalist of the Championship and Cup of Ukraine);

Boxing: R. Huliev (Champion of Ukraine, medalist of the European U23 Championship), I. Tahiiev (Medalist of the Championship of Ukraine);

Chess: D. Ahnyannykov (Medalist of the Championship of Ukraine);

Wrestling: D. Horban (World and European Combat Ju-Jutsu Champion), K. Napalko (Medalist of the Championship and Cup of Ukraine in combat sambo, World and European Combat Ju-Jutsu Champion);

Karate: O. Beznosov (Winner of the “Polish Open” international tournament), L. Diachenko (Medalist of the “Polish Open” international tournament), V. Shveda (Winner of the Ukrainian Student Karate Championship).

Historically, Olympic decathlon champion M. Avilov, world chess champion E. Geller, European judo champion F. Margiani, Paralympic medalist I. Shchetnik, world karate champion K. Vienik, and a host of other renowned athletes studied and refined their mastery at ONU.

In the 2025/2026 academic year, ONU varsity teams are actively competing in the “Side by Side All-Ukrainian Student Leagues” (in basketball, volleyball, and futsal). The execution of sports events at ONU is driven by a highly professional faculty team, including: 1 Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences / Master of Sports of the USSR; 1 Honored Coach of Ukraine / Master of Sports of Ukraine of International Class; 2 Masters of Sports of Ukraine of International Class; 1 Master of Sports of the USSR; and 3 Candidates for Master of Sports of Ukraine.