Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic National University

Athletic Life and Traditions of National University “Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic”
National University “Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic” boasts a rich heritage of athletic life, which seamlessly integrates mass participation, competitive spirit, the cultivation of a healthy lifestyle, and support for elite-level sports performance. Sports at the university serve as an essential component of the educational environment and an effective vehicle for developing team spirit, leadership qualities, resilience, and accountability. Physical culture and sports are treated not as a secondary endeavor, but as a strategic priority for the development of the university community.

Leadership and Institutional Support
A defining role in advancing the university’s athletic movement is played by its Rector, Viktor Hreshta, who serves as the Chairman of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Student Sports Union. Thanks to his personal involvement and systematic endorsement, sports at the university have received a powerful momentum for growth: the material and technical base is regularly upgraded, the participation of varsity teams in competitions of various levels is secured, and talented student-athletes receive tangible support—organizational, financial, and morale-boosting. The Rector personally participates in the university’s key athletic events, which stands as a vivid testament to the administration’s genuine, rather than declarative, dedication to the institution’s sporting life.

Organizational Structure and Infrastructure
A prominent role in fostering the athletic movement is held by the Faculty of Physical Culture and Sports Management, which trains future professionals in the field and orchestrates numerous mass sports, career-oriented, and mentoring events. The university possesses its own sports complex equipped with specialized halls for various sports, outdoor courts, and sports and wellness bases for recreation and training.

The university operates an extensive system of sports clubs, ranging from classical disciplines (association football, basketball, volleyball, track and field, badminton, table tennis) to combat sports (judo, taekwondo, hand-to-hand combat, wushu) and high-coordination disciplines (sports aerobics). Recently, the university introduced innovative racket sports—crossminton and pickleball—significantly expanding engagement among students of all physical fitness levels, from beginners to Masters of Sports.

Athletic Traditions and Events
The university’s sporting traditions have been forged over 125 years and constitute an integral part of its corporate culture. Well-established annual events include:

“Abituriєnt” (The Applicant) – competitions among school youth that blend athletic rivalry with career orientation and an introduction to the university;

“Razom my sila” (Together We Are Strong) – games uniting students from the university and its professional colleges, reinforcing the unity of the university family;

“Za badorist ta zdorovia” (For Vigor and Health) – a traditional multi-sport spartakiad among university staff members;

The Rector’s Cup Match – an annual futsal match between teams representing the rectorate, faculty, and students, which has become a symbol of openness and intergenerational athletic dialogue;

Events celebrating the International Day of University Sport (September 22) – mass fitness workouts, exhibition performances, and athletic activities for students and staff;

Participation in the European Week of Sport #BeActive and other all-Ukrainian and international sporting initiatives.

Achievements and Stars of University Sports
Students of National University “Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic” honorably represent the institution in municipal, all-Ukrainian, and international competitions. The pride of the institution is its varsity team in sports aerobics, which for many years has consistently secured victories at the Championships and Cups of Ukraine, while also achieving podium finishes and reaching the finals at European and World Championships, as well as the World Games.

Tetiana Lazarenko, a master’s student at the Faculty of Physical Culture and Sports Management, became the first Ukrainian European Champion in beach volleyball and ranked among the top female athletes in Ukraine. University student Maksym Manenkov clinched a gold medal in taekwondo at the 2025 Summer World University Games (Universiade)—the planet’s most prestigious student competition. These milestones were made possible by systematic institutional support for athletically gifted youth, which the university considers a vital investment in the future.

Partnership and Openness
The university actively cooperates with the Zaporizhzhia Regional Branch of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Ukraine, local authorities, sports federations, educational institutions, civil society organizations, and international partners. This openness broadens horizons for student participation in athletic, educational, and international initiatives, forging robust connections between the university and the region’s sporting community.

Amidst today’s challenging circumstances, sports at National University “Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic” remain a vital resource for unifying the university community, facilitating emotional recovery, and fostering social resilience—an indispensable facet of modern educational culture and a living tradition that inspires new generations of students.