Star judoka Lytvynenko changed citizenship: now she will compete for the UAE.

According to inkorr.com: Famous Ukrainian judoka Yelyzaveta Lytvynenko has decided to change her citizenship. She will now compete for the United Arab Emirates at international tournaments, reports the publication Glavcom. In 2022, Lytvynenko won a bronze medal at the World Championship, and last year her performance at the Olympic Games reached the quarter-finals.

Consequences of the boycott in judo for Ukrainian athletes

As a result of the boycott of international judo tournaments initiated by the Judo Federation of Ukraine, leading Ukrainian athletes remained outside significant sporting events. This step was due to the fact that the International Judo Federation allowed the participation of athletes from Belarus with their national symbols, which led Ukraine to decide not to participate in tournaments together with Russian and Belarusian athletes who officially represent their countries.

This decision prompted several promising Ukrainian judokas to switch under the flag of other states. In particular, Ilaria Tsurkan and Ihor Tsurkan became members of the Slovenian national team, where they have already won prizes at various international competitions.

Due to the boycott, Ukrainian athletes are forced to seek other opportunities to participate in international tournaments, which leads to significant losses in chances of participating in prestigious world-level competitions.

In a situation where Ukrainian athletes cannot compete on the international stage due to the boycott, Lytvynenko's decision may serve as an example for other athletes. It speaks to the importance of adapting to new conditions in order not to lose opportunities for career development. It also underscores the complexity of the choices that athletes face in the current situation: to remain patriots of their country or seek new opportunities abroad.