USUST coaches provide scientific support to the paralympic team in Spain
Since November 8, 2025, a training camp of the National Paralympic Team of Ukraine in para-rowing has been underway in the city of Ourense, Spain. This camp represents one of the key stages in athletes’ preparation for international competitions, combining intensive training sessions, practical work, and targeted scientific support.
A distinctive feature of the training camp is that the entire coaching staff are the representatives of the SEI’Prydniprovska State Academy of Physical Culture and Sports’ of the Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies. The team includes senior students, PhD sstudents, and academic staff with Andrii Serheiev, Associate Professor of the Department of Water Sports. This approach ensures the direct integration of modern scientific methodologies into practical work with high-performance athletes and creates a unique environment in which coaching decisions are grounded in up-to-date research.
At this stage, the primary focus is on developing sport-specific physical fitness, refining technical elements of rowing, and achieving optimal pre-competition readiness. Training programmes take into account athletes’ individual functional indicators, their sport classification, and the specific characteristics of each discipline.
As part of the training camp, a scientific experiment is currently being conducted in line with the doctoral research of one of the team’s coaches, supervised by Olena Omelchenko, head of the Department of Water Sports at USUST. The study, entitled ‘Structure and content of physical training of highly qualified athletes in paralympic academic rowing’, is based on data collected under real training conditions. This approach makes it possible to promptly assess the effectiveness of training methods, adjust workloads, and adapt the training process to the individual needs of the athletes.
The training programme includes on-water training sessions, ergometer workouts, strength and recovery activities, as well as systematic monitoring of the rowers’ physical condition. This comprehensive approach contributes to optimising preparation during periods of high training intensity.
The international format of the training camp not only enhances the quality of the training process but also opens up new opportunities for the professional development of the coaching staff of the SEI ‘Prydniprovska State Academy of Physical Culture and Sports’. The practical and scientific outcomes obtained will serve as a basis for the team’s further preparation for the key competitions of the season and for strengthening Ukraine’s position in Paralympic sport.
We are proud of the contribution made by our specialists to the development of the Paralympic movement and wish the athletes every success in their preparation for international competitions!