Maksym Nikolenko

Started: He began playing table tennis in 2006 in Ukraine. (Athlete, 13 May 2016) Reason: A close friend inspired him to take up the sport. (Athlete, 13 May 2016) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (paralympic.org.ua, 10 Sep 2023) Milestones: At the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo he and compatriot Viktor Didukh became the first Ukrainian table tennis players to win three career Paralympic medals in the sport. In Tokyo they both finished on the podium in the men's class 8 singles event [Nikolenko claiming bronze and Didukh winning silver], while they were teammates for Ukraine's silver medal in the men's class 8 team event. They had also won a team gold medal [class 6-8] together in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. (SportsDeskOnline, 21 Jul 2024) Awards: He received the Order for Courage [third and second class, respectively] in Ukraine in recognition of his performances at the 2016 and 2020 Paralympic Games. (zakon.rada.gov.ua, 16 Sep 2021; president.gov.ua, 04 Oct 2016) He has received the title of Master of Sport of International Class in Ukraine. (mms.gov.ua, 28 Dec 2022)