In the third episode of the talent show 'Ukraine Has Talent,' one of the most spectacular performances was the return of 15-year-old Sofia Teplyi from Podolsk in Odesa Oblast. Five years after her first appearance on stage, the gymnast combined balance, flexibility, and archery, with the climax of the routine being a flaming arrow released with her feet from a handstand position. According to Styler (an RBC-Ukraine project), Sofia performed this trick for the first time, and it required extraordinary precision, strength, coordination, and complete control over her body.
A routine that amazed the judges
The performance began with complex balance and flexibility elements, after which came the climax: in a difficult position, Sofia used her legs instead of her hands, drew the bow, and hit the target with a lit arrow. Judge Artem Pivovarov called the performance 'a stunning display of true mastery' and specifically highlighted the enormous work, stability, and fears that remain behind the scenes of such routines. The on-stage frame captures the moment of aiming: the arrow with a burning tip is directed toward the jury, while the gymnast holds the bow with her legs while standing on her hands.
The path from 'elf magic' to world records
Sofia came to 'Ukraine Has Talent' as a child: in 2021, at the age of 11, she performed a routine demonstrating incredible flexibility and at the end also shot an arrow with her feet while standing on her hands. The show's official YouTube channel at the time called her performance 'elf magic.' Over five years, the athlete has grown not only physically but also professionally — today she holds two world records. The first was set in 2022 in Milan: the 11-year-old Sofia covered a 20-meter distance in a triple gymnastic fold in 10.49 seconds and made it into the Guinness Book of Records. She set the second record in 2023, performing 21 one-arm push-ups in 30 seconds in a triple gymnastic fold.
A rematch that became her signature
Thus, Sofia's return to the show was not just another television performance: an experienced record-holding athlete took the stage, and she made her 'rematch' unforgettable — the flaming arrow released with her feet hit the target precisely. As Styler notes, a Ukrainian veteran who lost limbs and his sight in the war also previously appeared on the show, astonishing viewers with his precise archery, which underscores the special role of this type of trick in the program.
