Rodion Luka

Rodion Luka was born on 29 October 1972 in the family of engineers. He went to the Vyshhorod (Ukraine, Kyiv region) secondary school. When he was 11, he quit playing the piano at the music school and took to sailing. He gained his first experience in this field during practice sessions at the Kyiv Reservoir. In 1985, Rodion Luka bore the bell in sailing – he won the USSR (Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic) “Republican Regatta” and started preparing for the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) Youth Championship. In 1988, he won all the youth competitions, including the Ukrainian Championship and USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) Championship. Henceforward, Rodion Luka starts going in for sailing professionally.

1995 – graduated from National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine specializing in “Professional and Olympic Sports Management”. 1999 – graduated from Kyiv State Maritime Academy with the specialization “Navigator, Ship Driver”.

Rodion Luka obtained his first international prize in 1993. He became the gold medallist in the Warnemünde Laser-Radial-Class Regatta, and bronze medallist in the European Championship in Sardinia (Italy).

• In 1994, the sportsman captured silver of the European Championship in England and World Championship in Japan.
• In 1996, Rodion Luka represents Ukraine in the Laser-Class Olympic Games.
• Next year, he starts the Olympic Sydney 2000 49er-Class Campaign together with Georgiy Leonchuk.
• In 1999, Rodion Luka obtains a license to compete in the Olympics 2000, where he ranks the tenth. Coincidently, he takes the title of the Champion of Australia and wins the bronze in the 49er-Class European Championship.
• In 2000s, Rodion Luka made the greatest professional breakthrough in yachting sport. He and his team headed the list in the ISAF (International Sailing Federation) World Ranking (2002-2003), won the 49er-class championship and took the lead in the world ranking (2005).
• In 2005, Rodion Luka obtains the title of the Sportsman of the Year in Ukraine according to the National Olympic Committee.
• In 2008, he becomes a bronze medallist of the European and World Championships, and in 2012 – SB20-Class Champion of England, Russia and Europe.

In 2008-2009, Rodion Luka is the only Ukrainian who competed in the most prestigious Volvo Ocean Race global sailing regatta on the “Kasatka (Killer Whale)” yacht as a steersman. Volvo Ocean Race makes the list of five most significant competitions of yachtsmen worldwide.

• In 2012-2013, Rodion Luka works as the RC44-class coacher.
• In 2012, he establishes the yachting school – KievRacingYachtClub. The Club created the conditions for yachting for the people who have neither time, nor money to buy and maintain own yachts. The Club organizes amateur regattas; the Club teams continuously participate in international competitions.

Married. Wife – Anastasiia, children: Kyrylo and Sofiia.

• Rodion Luka at World Sailing
• Rodion Luka at the International Olympic Committee
• Rodion Luka at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)
• 49er World Championships
• OUTTERIDGE And AUSTIN Win 49er World Title