• Sofiia Lyskun switches allegiance to Russia, losing all her titles and awards.
• The Ukrainian Diving Federation condemns her actions as 'categorically unacceptable.'
• Lyskun cites a lack of growth under Ukrainian coaching as a reason for her switch.
• Her move could limit future participation in international competitions.
• Russia's participation in global sports remains contentious after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Ukrainian diver Sofiia Lyskun has been stripped of all titles after her decision to switch allegiance to Russia. The 23-year-old athlete, who represented Ukraine in both the 2020 Tokyo and Paris 2024 Olympic Games, revealed her switch in a recent interview with a Russian newspaper. The Ukrainian Diving Federation stated it had not been informed of her decision by Lyskun herself, her coaching staff, or by Ukraine's sports ministry, leading to a strong backlash from officials, who called the act "categorically unacceptable," according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

In their official statement, the Federation highlighted that such actions damage not only Lyskun's reputation but also that of the entire Ukrainian national team. They announced plans to pursue international action against her, including a petition for "sports quarantine," emphasizing the implications of her switch under current international standards. This follows the restrictions placed on Russian and Belarusian athletes since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, as mentioned by India Times and Reuters.

Lyskun, reflecting on her decision in the interview with the Russian outlet Izvestia, expressed difficulty in developing under the current coaching environment in Ukraine. She explained, "Over the past few years in sports in Ukraine, I realized I wasn’t growing, as all my coaches were gymnasts or trampoline athletes," according to Al Jazeera and India Times.