Ukrainian, European, and World Champion in roller sports (freestyle, slides)
Hi! My name is Marusya Pogulyaka, I’m 13 years old, and roller skating has been an integral part of my life for several years now. I’m from Kharkiv—a city that taught me to be strong and never give up.
How It All Began: A Happy Coincidence
My journey into roller sports began completely by chance when I was 7 years old. My dad and I were heading to the ice rink as usual, but this time we went in through a different entrance. Suddenly, I saw the roller rink and was immediately excited by the idea of trying something new. That day, I put on roller skates for the first time—and I never went back to regular ice skating again.
Return and the Start of a Career
However, it was actually sliding and professional sports that came into my life a little later. When I was 9 years old, my parents asked if I wanted to return to skating after a forced break due to the full-scale invasion. I hesitated a lot and was worried about the change in coaches, but I still said “yes.”
September 2022 marked the official start of my current career. That’s when I began training seriously and discovered freestyle slides.
Back then, during the war, roller skating became more than just a hobby for me. It was my way of escaping reality, of returning to a normal life filled with rules, training, and dreams, not just distressing news. I realized that sports — were my safe space.
Freestyle Slides – My Passion
I compete in one of the most spectacular disciplines of roller sports—freestyle slides. It’s a combination of extreme braking and balancing at breakneck speeds. I’m a pretty modest person in everyday life, but when I put on my skates and step onto the rink, my only goal is to show the absolute best of what I’m capable of.
When I start my run-up, the whole world around me seems to disappear; it’s just me, the track, and my level of preparation—and fear turns into pure excitement. I love that feeling of control over my own speed and body—in those moments, I feel truly free.
My Main Accomplishments To Date
Thanks to daily training and the support of my family and coaches, I’ve managed to achieve results that I’m truly proud of:
- 🥇 Gold medal at the World Championships (2025, Singapore) — in the Junior Women’s category. It was my dream come true.
- 🥇 Gold at the European Championships (2025, Aniani, Italy)—I competed in the senior division there and, proving that age is just a number, became one of the best on the continent.
- 🥈 World Cup Silver (2026, Milan, Italy) — a medal in the adult professional category (Pro Women).
- 🥉 As of August–September 2026, I am ranked third among adult women in the official rankings of the international federation World Skate.
- 🥇x5 I am also a five-time Ukrainian champion in my discipline.
Each of these awards represents hundreds of hours of falls, rises, and refining movements to perfection.
Of course, there were times when, because of fatigue or failed attempts, I wanted to give it all up. But now I know for sure: every bit of pain during training and every bruise was worth it for that moment when the Ukrainian national anthem plays in your honor and you’re standing at the top of the podium.
My Philosophy and Plans for the Future
Sports have taught me that age or circumstances don’t matter if you truly love what you do. Today, my main goal is to give it my all—not just in competitions or during training, but in every aspect of my life outside of sports as well. No external circumstances are worth giving up my passions, desires, dreams, and my own life.
