Ukraine has condemned two-time Olympic diver Sofiia Lyskun's decision to switch her sporting allegiance to Russia and will seek to strip her of all awards. The 23-year-old, who competed at the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Olympics, told Russian newspaper Izvestia that 'coaches’ incompetence' in Ukraine was a factor in her move.
Lyskun, a native of the occupied city of Luhansk, said she felt unsupported and that her psychological state worsened. 'I finally realised it was a one-way street. No one supported me, but on the contrary, it was aggravating my psychological state,' she said in a video interview. She also cited criticism for maintaining contact with Russian-speaking coaches.
The Ukrainian Diving Federation called Lyskun's decision 'categorically unacceptable' and said it would appeal to international sports bodies to impose competition restrictions. The federation noted that the Ukrainian team 'selflessly fights every day for the right to represent our country on the international stage.'
Lyskun won gold in the 10-meter synchronized springboard with Kseniya Baylo at the 2024 European Aquatics Championships. She also competed in the 10-meter platform and synchronized events at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics.
