‘Deep indignation’ after Ukraine diver switches to Russia

After the European champion reverts to Russia, the Ukrainian Diving Federation wants diver Sofiia Lyskun to lose all honors.

Lyskun, 23, who won the European Aquatics Championships’ 10m synchro title last year, made the decision to change her nationality earlier this week.

The federation claimed Lyskun “deeply condemns” her actions and expresses deep indignation against her actions, notifying it, the coaching staff, or the Ukrainian ministry of youth and sports.

Such actions are categorically unacceptable, according to the federation, because they discredit both the Ukrainian national team, which fought tirelessly for the right to represent our nation on the world stage every day.

Lyskun claimed in the Russian newspaper Izvestia that she realized over the years that her Ukrainian coaches, who were “all gymnasts or trampoline athletes,” were no longer “growing.”

At a special meeting of the federation’s executive committee, it was decided unanimously to remove Lyskun from the Ukraine team and “strip her of all titles and awards received under the auspices of the federation.”

Additionally, it will “appeal to international sports institutions with a demand to apply sports quarantine to the aforementioned athlete in accordance with current international standards.”

Russian and Belarusian athletes were prohibited from competing in World Aquatics events following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Russians and Belarusians can now compete separately as neutral athletes without the use of their national flag or symbols, with these restrictions now being lifted.