Emerging Ukrainian Judo Talents Switch Sports Citizenship to Compete for Other Countries
The Ukrainian sports scene is witnessing a growing trend that captivates attention and sparks debates within athletic circles.
Three promising Ukrainian judokas, who have made a name for themselves through numerous domestic achievements, have decided to take a significant step by officially changing their sports citizenships to represent different nations internationally.
This information was shared by the well-known sports portal Tribuna.com citing reliable sources.
The athletes in question are 16-year-old Ilaria Tsurkan, her 20-year-old brother Igor Tsurkan, and another 20-year-old judoka, Oleksiy Boldyrev.
Ilaria Tsurkan, who recently secured a silver medal at the Cadet World Championships competing for Slovenia, now officially represents this country.
She holds the second position in the global junior rankings in the under-63 kg weight category and has also claimed gold at the European Youth Olympic Festival while competing under the Ukrainian flag.
Her achievements include notable successes both in European competitions and on the world stage.
Her brother, Ilya Tsurkan, has also transferred to the Slovenian team.
He is recognized as a silver and bronze medalist at the European Junior Championships, currently ranking fourth worldwide in the under-81 kg weight class.
The third athlete, Oleksiy Boldyrev, will represent Poland in future competitions.
At 20, he ranks among the top junior judokas globally and competes in the under-90 kg weight category.
It is important to note that according to the rules of the International Judo Federation, athletes under the age of 20 have the right to change their sporting nation without an official change of citizenship, a practice that allows for more flexible international transfers.
This emerging trend among young athletes is often driven by their pursuit of greater sporting opportunities and recognition on the global stage.
Earlier reports indicated that Ukraine boycotted the World Judo Championships due to the participation of Belarusian athletes under their national flag, a development that further complicates the political and sporting landscape.
The phenomenon of changing sports citizenship raises questions about loyalty, identity, and the traditional concept of representing one’s homeland, all of which could impact Ukraine’s future in international judo competitions.