Any sport claims a ton of attention not only during the events but also from the controversies that surround it. One such complication has clouded the community, involving the Ukrainian gymnastics scene, where one of their major gymnasts has been considering a big change following so much success with the team. But who’s the gymnast, and why do they want a change?

It’s Ukraine’s recent Paris Olympic silver medalist, Illia Kovtun, who also made his country proud prior to the Olympic Games in the 36th European Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Championships, which was held in Rimini, Italy. However, a controversy arose when he was about to be replaced on the team, potentially costing the country a gold medal, which is also the reason he is taking a significant step in his life.

A tough decision yet important for his career

Illia Kovtun has been dedicated to competing for Ukraine despite all the ongoing problems that have surrounded the country. However, the controversy that took place in the European Championships has made him realize the reason to move forward—to save his gymnastics career. Recently, as reported by Espreso TV, “Ilya Kovtun and his coach Iryna Gorbacheva are considering the possibility of changing sports citizenship. The 21-year-old gymnast and his coach can continue to perform for the Croatian national team. The final decision will be made by the end of this year.”

This will be a significant step for the gymnast, as he will be changing his citizenship and potentially competing for Croatia. Illia Kovtun has been seeking shelter and support across various European countries since the Russian invasion of Ukraine disrupted his life and training in early 2022. Initially, he and his team trained in exile, moving between several gymnastics clubs across Europe. They first stayed briefly with Blau-Weiss Buchholz in Germany and then spent two months at Palestra Ginnastica Ferrara in Italy.

By mid-2022, they found a more stable refuge in Osijek, Croatia, where the Croatian gymnastics community provided substantial support. This included access to training facilities, financial aid for medical expenses, and even new equipment to aid his preparation for competitions. Despite these challenges, Kovtun continued to represent Ukraine, honoring his country with his performances. So why are he and his coach considering making such a big decision? It could be all because of the controversy.

Problems started in this Olympic campaign, especially during the European Championships. Various sources reported that head coach Gennadiy Sartinsky came clean on the complications that were caused by Stella Zakharova. He revealed that even after a successful qualification in Italy, Zakharova requested Kovtun’s coach Gorbacheva to exclude him from the team, which would’ve headed into the finals. However, according to Sartinsky, this decision could have led to numerous issues within the squad, potentially preventing the team from winning the gold medal. Furthermore, Sartinsky revealed that under her leadership, the team would have continued to struggle and drift apart due to decisions that could completely alter a gymnast’s career.

So, understanding the intensity of the situation, Kovtun and his coach could have taken this major call, and they might announce the gymnast’s potential move to Croatia in the future. Gorbacheva also has stressed that there have been a ton of opinions regarding the rumors circulating the controversy and her gymnast, but to put an end to these assumptions, she will be announcing Kovtun’s major decision for the upcoming season in later days. “There are opinions about it, but everything will be decided and finally said later. Everything must be weighed and agreed Is there a chance to save Kovtun in our federation? Every second something new, and I don’t want to keep track of who is friends with whom or quarrels,” said his coach.

For the Ukrainian and his team, the damage has already been done, and if they don’t move forward, it will just cause more complications for them in the future. However, if Ukraine loses Kovtun in this process, it would be a huge loss for the team, as the gymnast has shone on many occasions and has brought a ton of accolades to his nation, especially his career-first Olympic medal.

Illia Kovtun’s display of gymnastics prowess for Ukraine

Illia Kovtun isn’t just talented—he’s a star. His gymnastics skills have earned him heaps of praise, and that’s not changing, even with all this buzz about a potential citizenship switch. Every single accolade on his résumé? Done while repping Ukraine, something he’s super proud of. As Illia put it on the Blind Landing Podcast back on March 19, 2022, “Our leadership gave us the direction to train and prepare for the next competition. Keep defending the honor of Ukraine on the sports field. So we’re trying to stay strong and make every effort to have the Ukrainian national Anthem play.” That’s the energy he’s been bringing.

The 2024 Olympics in Paris? Absolutely a game-changer for him. Illia snagged his first-ever silver medal in the men’s parallel bars final, with a jaw-dropping score of 15.500. He was just 0.7 points behind China’s Zou Jingyuan, who took gold, while Japan’s Shinnosuke Oka grabbed bronze with 15.300.

The Ukrainian’s performance was truly remarkable, as he made a significant comeback on the coveted stage, having previously placed 11th in the men’s individual all-around competition in Tokyo. Furthermore, he competed in other events as well, but the parallel bars were the ones that earned him the medal.