Nina Derwael retires from elite gymnastics
Olympic gymnastics champion Nina Derwael has announced her retirement from top-level sport at the age of 25. The news was confirmed on Tuesday by sports agency Golazo and the Belgian Gymnastics Federation.
Derwael steps away at the height of her career. Her two gold medals, on the uneven bars and balance beam, at last month’s European Championships in Leipzig were her final competitive performances. Her career saw her win 11 major championship medals, including Olympic gold on the uneven bars at Tokyo 2021.
“I’ve reached what I wanted and was able to reach. I’ve been able to prove what I had in me,” Derwael said.
“Until today, I always went to the gym with a lot of joy, because I loved it so much and because I had perspective. Leipzig was such a goal, though I didn’t expect gold. That final routine was based purely on experience.”
”I’ve been able to prove what I had in me”
Reflecting on her decision, she added: “It made me realise it can’t really get better. If I want to play a role at a World Championship or Olympic Games again, I’d have to push my body even harder and longer, and I no longer want to take that risk. In recent weeks, my mind kept asking: ‘Isn’t it enough? Is it worth putting my body on the line?’ My conclusion: it’s been enough. It has been beautiful. Even very beautiful.”
Derwael was recently awarded the Flemish Community medal of honour for her contribution to sport and will be officially celebrated at the Memorial Van Damme athletics meeting in Brussels on 22 August. She was named Belgian Sportswoman of the Year three times and received numerous national accolades during her career.
She will explain her decision further at a press conference on Wednesday.
#FlandersNewsService | Nina Derwael at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM
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