Ukrainian Olympic diver Sofiia Lyskun has been stripped of all her national titles and awards following her controversial decision to switch sporting allegiance to represent Russia.
Federation Condemns 'Categorically Unacceptable' Move
The Ukrainian Diving Federation issued a strong statement on Friday, 5th December 2025, labelling the 23-year-old athlete's choice as "categorically unacceptable." The body announced it would seek to remove all honours Lyskun earned while representing Ukraine and would appeal to international sports institutions to impose competition restrictions on her.
The federation emphasised the contrast between Lyskun's actions and the efforts of the Ukrainian team, which it said "selflessly fights every day for the right to represent our country on the international stage." It added that the nation's coaches and athletes' parents "have stood up and are defending Ukraine."
Lyskun Cites 'Incompetence' and Lack of Support
In a video interview with the Russian newspaper Izvestia this week, Lyskun, a two-time Olympian, explained her reasons for the switch. She pointed to what she described as "coaches' incompetence" within the Ukrainian system, noting that many diving coaches originally came from gymnastics or trampolining backgrounds.
"How can someone from a completely different field teach you anything? In recent years, I've realised in sports in Ukraine that I'm not growing," she stated.
The diver, who competed at both the 2020 Tokyo Games and the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 10-metre platform events, also criticised an overemphasis on individual preparation and a profound lack of support. "I finally realised it was a one-way street. No one supported me, but on the contrary, it was aggravating my psychological state and making the whole situation worse," Lyskun revealed.
She described reaching a low point: "I had moments when I didn't go to training for about a week, and I just sat at home crying. Nothing good came of it."
Background and Sporting Achievements
Lyskun is a native of Luhansk, a city in eastern Ukraine that has been occupied by Russian-backed forces since 2014. She revealed that maintaining contact with her first coach, who now works in Moscow, had drawn criticism from Ukrainian officials. "And now, at the last competition, I'm being criticised in front of everyone," she said.
Her sporting accolades for Ukraine include winning gold in the 10-metre synchronised springboard at the 2024 European Aquatics Championships alongside partner Kseniya Baylo. Despite her success, the federation is now moving to revoke these and all other awards.
The case highlights the intense political and personal pressures facing athletes from conflict zones, transforming individual career choices into acts of national significance. The international sporting community now awaits potential rulings from global bodies on Lyskun's eligibility to compete for Russia.
