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Zhan BeleniukUkrainian Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestler
Date of Birth: 24.01.1991
Country:  Ukraine |
Content:
- Early Life and Wrestling Career
- International Success
- Post-Olympics and Political Career
- Honors and Awards
- Medal "For Labor and Victory" (2013)
Early Life and Wrestling Career
Zhan Beleniuk was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, in 1991 to a Rwandan father and Ukrainian mother. His father, a victim of a military coup, died during the Rwandan Civil War. Beleniuk began wrestling in 2000 and quickly rose through the ranks.
In 2010, he won silver at the World Junior Championships. The following year, he became European Junior Champion and bronze medalist at the World Junior Championships in Greco-Roman wrestling. Beleniuk's impressive performance continued in 2012 with a bronze medal at the European Championships.
International Success
Beleniuk's international success accelerated in 2013 with a bronze medal at the Summer Universiade in Kazan. In 2014, he won gold at the European Championships and bronze at the World Championships. 2015 brought him silver at the European Games, and in 2016, he claimed another European Championship title.
A pivotal moment came in 2015 when Beleniuk defeated Asian champion Rustam Assakalov to win the World Championship in the 85 kg weight class. The following year, he secured a silver medal at the Rio Olympics after losing to Russian wrestler Davit Chakvetadze in the final.
Post-Olympics and Political Career
After the 2016 Olympics, Beleniuk criticized the inadequate training conditions for Ukrainian wrestlers. However, he denied any intention of switching citizenship. In 2019, he won gold at the World Championships in the 87 kg weight class, securing an Olympic berth for Ukraine.
Despite his athletic achievements, Beleniuk also pursued higher education, earning a Master's in Sports Psychology from the National University of Physical Education and Sport of Ukraine and a degree in Business Management from the Interregional Academy of Personnel Management.
In 2019, Beleniuk was elected to the Ukrainian Parliament as a member of the Servant of the People party. He serves as First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Youth and Sports and is involved in inter-parliamentary relations with Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Honors and Awards
Zhan Beleniuk's exceptional achievements have earned him numerous accolades:
Medal "For Labor and Victory" (2013)
Order of Merit, 2nd Class (2019)Order of Merit, 3rd Class (2016)
