The famous Ukrainian champion gymnast suddenly ended her career at the age of 22

Mariia Vysochanska, two-time European champion (2020) in rhythmic gymnastics and bronze medalist at the World Championships (2023), has decided to end her sports career. The 22-year-old Lviv resident said this in a farewell post on social media.

The athlete admitted that despite her young age, she is ready to leave the sports scene and move on to new life stages.

"I don't have enough pages to tell you about all 18 years in sports," said Mariia, who did not hide the fact that she made this decision only recently when she felt ready to say important words to her fans and those who were close to her throughout her career.

"When I was 4 years old, I couldn't even imagine that I would come this far in gymnastics, and at 14 I didn't think I would become a European champion, a world championship medalist, a finalist in two Olympics, carry the Olympic flame and be a team captain," she said, adding that these achievements, which once seemed unattainable, have become her reality.

Her mother took a special place in her gratitude. The gymnast emphasized that without her, this path would not have been possible.

"Mom, thank you for being there for me when I thought everything was over because of my injuries and pain. When I called you after training and just cried, you listened to me and supported me. You didn't let me give up and didn't let me give up. It was hard, but it was you who helped me reach the Olympics in Paris," the gymnast wrote.

She also expressed her gratitude to her coach, Iryna Ivanovna, who believed in her at the age of 14 and gave her a chance to prove herself.

"We went through many difficult moments, but I always knew that you wanted only the best for me. Sometimes your love was so strong that it hurt, but I realized that when we left the gym, we could find a common language," the athlete emphasized.

The post also reflected her gratitude to the coaches and teammates who helped her grow not only as an athlete but also as a person.

"I want to thank all the coaches who invested a part of themselves in me. I thank those who were there for me, who believed in me and supported me, as well as those who showed me that they were not with me. We didn't always get along, there were many tears, misunderstandings, and screams, but now I am grateful for this experience. I would not have become as strong as I am today without you," she said.

The athlete did not forget about herself. In her message, she thanked herself for her resilience and perseverance, which allowed her to go through all the difficulties and not turn off the path.

"I thank myself for not breaking down, for not betraying myself and my principles, for always fighting honestly for a place in the team. I did everything in my power, and only the best is ahead of me," she wrote, confident that she had made the right decision.

Concluding her post, the gymnast noted that the sport will always remain in her heart, despite the end of her career.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, Mariia's father, Oleh Vysocchanskyi, took part in the 242-day battle for Donetsk airport in 2015, where he was wounded. After the start of the full-scale invasion, he returned to the army and is now defending Ukraine as part of the Armed Forces.

During the 2024 Olympics, Oleh Yaroslavovych was able to take a short vacation to come to Paris and support his daughter in the rhythmic gymnastics competition in group exercises. The day before, the Ukrainians took 3rd place in the qualifiers and 7th in the final.

In May 2024, Mariia took part in the Olympic Torch Relay ceremony in France, where she led a team of athletes from 27 European Union countries.