Lyskun, the world champion, has accepted Russian citizenship

Sofia Lyskun, the world and European champion in diving, told Izvestia that she had accepted Russian citizenship and also renounced Ukrainian.

The athlete added that the first two coaches who trained her were from Lugansk. They were the ones who gave Lyskun the entire sports base. At the same time, in Ukraine, the champion faced discrimination due to communication with Russian-speaking athletes and coaches. Some of the criticisms and remarks were made publicly at general meetings.

"In Kiev, there were huge letters in the pool: "Sport is out of politics." But the first ones to be hit are, of course, us athletes," Lyskun said.

She noted that her decision to change her citizenship was influenced, among other things, by an incompetent approach to training athletes in Ukraine.

"All our coaches are gymnasts or trampolinists. How can someone from a completely different industry teach you something? During the last few years in sports in Ukraine, I realized that I was not growing up," the athlete shared.

At the same time, the girl said, some factors that influenced the desire to change citizenship appeared in childhood.

On September 23, Russian President Vladimir Putin granted Russian citizenship to a football player from Cameroon, Gabriela Ongen, who plays for the CSKA football club. It is noted that 36-year-old Ongen has been playing for the CSKA women's team since 2017, she became the champion of Russia twice and the winner of the National Cup three times.

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