The Ukrainian gymnast refused to personally shed light on the resonant situation.
Silver medalist of the 2024 Paris Olympics in artistic gymnastics Ilya Kovtun responded to information about a possible change of sports citizenship.
In a comment to Tribuna.com The 21-year-old Ukrainian gymnast refused to personally clarify the situation.
“For information, contact my personal coach. Thank you,” Kovtun said.
Earlier it became known that Kovtun and his personal coach Irina Gorbacheva may change their sports citizenship and begin representing Croatia instead of Ukraine. According to Gorbacheva, the final decision will be made before the end of this year.
We add that Kovtun and Gorbacheva spent the entire 2024 preparing for the competition in Croatia. The athlete did not return to Ukraine after the Olympics in Paris.
We recall that Kovtun won silver in the parallel bars exercises at the 2024 Olympics. This is his first Olympic medal in his career.
He also came in fourth twice at the Paris Games – in floor exercises and the individual all-around. In addition, Ilya took fifth place as part of the Ukrainian national team in the team all-around.
The Paris Games were already the second Olympics in Kovtun's career. At his debut Games in Tokyo in 2021, he took 11th place in the individual all-around and became seventh on the team.