Tensions are boiling over in Ukrainian gymnastics, and it’s creating quite a stir. The Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation has found itself in the eye of a storm after a major disciplinary decision and a threat of boycott from national team athletes. The Federation is standing firm, explaining its actions and making it clear that the situation is far from simple. While many of the details are still under wraps pending an ongoing investigation, the message is clear: they won’t let actions that could damage Ukrainian sports slide. So, what triggered all this drama?

On February 11, 2025, the Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation’s Presidium made a bold move, temporarily suspending Gennady Sartynskyi. So, who was he? He was the head coach of the national men’s artistic gymnastics team. Why was he suspended? The decision came after the Federation’s Disciplinary Commission concluded that Sartynskyi had committed a serious violation with “obvious signs of illegal actions,” according to igf.org.

The Federation emphasized that such behavior is unacceptable, no matter how decorated or accomplished an individual is. For now, Sartynskyi is suspended, and the Federation has promised to make a final decision once the investigation concludes. But it didn’t just stop there. A group of national team gymnasts didn’t take kindly to Sartynskyi’s suspension and decided to throw their weight behind a potential boycott of international competitions.

The Federation wasted no time launching its investigation to identify who was behind the call. During these unstable times, the federation expressed concerns about how a boycott could be manipulated as propaganda against Ukraine. The Federation’s position is clear: The Federation believes this action does not support Ukraine’s national interests while potentially diminishing its sport authorities in international competitions, so they refuse to comply.

The gymnastics Federation took a hard stance, urging the young athletes who signed the boycott statement to rethink their position. “They should rethink their joining the statement and take appropriate actions that will demonstrate their patriotism, attitude to the reputation of Ukrainian sports, and understanding of the impact of Ukrainian athletes’ participation in international sports competitions on the morale of our defenders and the Ukrainian public as a whole,” the statement read.

The Federation establishes its message by stating: this isn’t just about gymnastics; Ukraine demonstrates its unflinching strength together with pride through gymnastics, despite all forms of adversity. Despite these challenges, Ukraine’s athletes have refused to give up after all the struggles they have faced since 2024.

Ukrainian gymnastics hits new milestones post-Paris 2024

Since the Paris 2024 Olympics, Ukraine’s men’s gymnastics team has stepped up. They snagged a solid fifth place in the team all-around, and Illia Kovtun was oh-so-close to a medal in the individual all-around, finishing just fourth. That performance set the tone for what’s been a strong run post-Olympics.

At the 2024 European Championships in Rimini, the team scored a huge win with a gold in the men’s team event, edging out Great Britain. Oh, and let’s not forget about Nazar Chepurnyi — he bagged a bronze on vault, proving that Ukraine’s gymnasts are as hungry as ever. But the team didn’t stop there. They’ve been racking up wins in the World Challenge Cup series, with Chepurnyi clinching gold in Baku and silver in Cairo.

The momentum has been strong, and it’s clear Ukraine isn’t just a flash in the pan; they’re here to stay. Now, as the 2025 World Championships loom, there’s a bit of uncertainty. Gennady Sartynskyi’s brief coaching suspension has sparked controversy despite the team’s uniform determination to succeed. They show clear dedication to surpassing challenges while delivering their performance.

The future of Ukrainian gymnastics in upcoming major events will depend on how the team addresses inner struggles while maintaining a focus on winning. The upcoming journey will be intense, but they have exhibited enough strength to sustain it.