Taras Rad

{{short description|Ukrainian amputated cross-country skier and biathlete}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Taras Rad

| image = Радь Тарас - Проводи паралімпійців 2018.jpg

| caption = Rad in 2018

| nationality = Ukrainian

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1999|11|20}}

| country = {{UKR}}

| sport = Para Nordic skiing (Para cross-country skiing and Para biathlon)

| disability_class = LW12

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry|{{UKR}}}}

}}

Taras Rad (born 20 November 1999) is a Ukrainian amputated male cross-country skier and biathlete.{{Cite web|url=https://m.paralympic.org/pyeongchang-2018/results/info-live-results/PWG2018/en/cross-country-skiing/athlete-profile-n3056897-taras-rad.htm|title=Taras Rad {{!}} Paralympic bio|website=Paralympic.org|access-date=15 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316023253/https://m.paralympic.org/pyeongchang-2018/results/info-live-results/PWG2018/en/cross-country-skiing/athlete-profile-n3056897-taras-rad.htm|archive-date=16 March 2018|url-status=live}} He made his Paralympic debut at the age of 18 for Ukraine at the 2018 Winter Paralympics competing in Cross-country skiing and Biathlon events.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pyeongchang2018.com/en/game-time/results/PWG2018/en/biathlon/athlete-profile-n3056897-taras-rad.htm|title=Biathlon {{!}} Athlete Profile: Taras RAD – Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games|website=www.pyeongchang2018.com|language=en|access-date=15 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310201033/https://www.pyeongchang2018.com/en/game-time/results/PWG2018/en/biathlon/athlete-profile-n3056897-taras-rad.htm|archive-date=10 March 2018|url-status=live}} He also went onto claim his first Paralympic medal during the 2018 Winter Paralympics after clinching the gold medal in the men's 12.5km sitting biathlon event.{{Cite news|url=http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/sport/491320.html|title=Taras Rad brings wins fourth gold medal for Ukraine at Winter Paralympics|access-date=15 March 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315200148/http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/sport/491320.html|archive-date=15 March 2018|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pyeongchang2018.com/en/game-time/results/PWG2018/en/biathlon/results-men-s-12-5km-sitting-fnl-000100-.htm|title=Biathlon {{!}} Results Men's 12.5km – Sitting – Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games|website=www.pyeongchang2018.com|language=en|access-date=15 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316023037/https://www.pyeongchang2018.com/en/game-time/results/PWG2018/en/biathlon/results-men-s-12-5km-sitting-fnl-000100-.htm|archive-date=16 March 2018|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-sports/2420337-rad-claims-fourth-gold-medal-for-ukraine-at-2018-winter-paralympics.html|title=Rad claims fourth gold medal for Ukraine at 2018 Winter Paralympics|access-date=15 March 2018|language=en}}

Career

Taras Rad sustained a leg injury at the age of 14 but was not treated properly by the doctors after receiving the treatment. He was later forced to amputate his leg in order to survive. Taras Rad took the sport of Paralympic Nordic skiing at the age of 14.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pyeongchang2018.com/en/game-time/results/PWG2018/en/cross-country-skiing/athlete-profile-n3056897-taras-rad.htm|title=Cross-Country Skiing {{!}} Athlete Profile: Taras RAD – Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games|website=www.pyeongchang2018.com|language=en|access-date=15 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315200151/https://www.pyeongchang2018.com/en/game-time/results/PWG2018/en/cross-country-skiing/athlete-profile-n3056897-taras-rad.htm|archive-date=15 March 2018|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://m.paralympic.org/taras-rad|title=Taras Rad biography|access-date=15 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315200124/https://m.paralympic.org/taras-rad|archive-date=15 March 2018|url-status=live}}

He won the bronze medal in the men's 6{{nbsp}}kilometres sitting biathlon event at the 2021 World Para Snow Sports Championships held in Lillehammer, Norway.{{Cite news|last=Houston|first=Michael|date=15 January 2022|title=Russians take biathlon golds at World Para Snow Sports Championships|work=InsideTheGames.biz|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1117842/world-para-snow-sports-champs-3|access-date=15 January 2022}} He also won the silver medal in the men's 10{{nbsp}}kilometres sitting biathlon event.{{Cite news|date=16 January 2022|title=Belarus' Yury Holub reigns supreme for second gold medal despite icy slip|work=Paralympic.org|url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/belarus-yury-holub-reigns-supreme-second-gold-medal-despite-icy-slip|access-date=16 January 2022}}{{Cite news|last=Houston|first=Michael|date=16 January 2022|title=Russian trio win again in biathlon at the World Para Snow Sports Championships|work=InsideTheGames.biz|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1117882/world-para-snow-sports-champs-4|access-date=16 January 2022}}

In biathlon, he won the silver medal in the men's 6 kilometres sitting event and the bronze medal in the men's 10 kilometres sitting event at the 2022 Winter Paralympics held in Beijing, China.{{Cite news|last=Lloyd|first=Owen|date=5 March 2022|title=Ukraine top Beijing 2022 Paralympics medals table after opening day with three biathlon golds|work=InsideTheGames.biz|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1120090/beijing-2022-paralympics-day-1-biathlon|access-date=6 March 2022}}