Ukrainian Judoka Elizaveta Litvinenko Wins First Medal for UAE After Citizenship Change
In the world of sports achievements, a significant announcement has once again captured the attention of not only the sports community but also the general public.
Former Ukrainian judoka Elizaveta Litvinenko, after changing her citizenship and obtaining a passport from the United Arab Emirates, successfully made her debut on the international stage representing her new country.
At the recent Grand Prix in China, she earned a silver medal, becoming the first athlete from the UAE to receive a recognition at this prestigious tournament after such a drastic step.
Litvinenko, who previously competed under the Ukrainian flag and achieved success in continental competitions, including a youth title and a bronze at the 2022 World Championship, has indicated that her return to competition was made possible thanks to the support of her new homeland.
In her Instagram post, she expressed gratitude to everyone for their support and emphasized that this moment is particularly meaningful for her.
This development fits into a broader trend observed over the past year, where some promising Ukrainian judokas are choosing to compete for other countries due to political and organizational difficulties in Ukraine.
Such citizenship changes have sparked discussions in sports circles and raise questions about the future of Ukrainian judo, which is currently undergoing a challenging period of reform and reorganization.
On the other hand, Ukraine has announced plans to boycott the World Judo Championship over the participation of Belarusian athletes under their national flag, which adds further tension and complicates the career paths of young athletes facing political obstacles and personal decisions.