Aleksandra Soldatova has retired from rhythmic gymnastics.
The four-time world champion made the announcement on Thursday (24 December) after an event in her native Russia.
On her official Instagram social media account, Soldatova said, "Today is a special day for me! You can congratulate me on moving to a new stage in my life! I am glad that I was able to make this important decision.
"Today at the Show of Olympic Champions will be my last appearance on the carpet as an active athlete."
"I'm 22 and I have a lot of interesting things ahead of me. I have set myself many ambitious goals and will do everything to achieve them!"
Future goals are connected to rhythmic gymnastics
Soldatova described her career as "an amazing period spanning 16 years," as reported by Tass.
She went on to add "There was a lot on this path, but now I remember only good things.
"I have many plans that I want to fulfil. Of course, they are connected with gymnastics and in order to achieve these goals I need to be fully healthy.”
The three-time European champion had recently shared the physical and psychological struggles she faced with the eating disorder bulimia, in the hope of inspiring others in similar situations, after putting her career on hold last year,
Soldatova - known as Sasha - had words of thanks for her coaches and her fans in announcing the end of her career, while also revealing that she plans to remain close to the sport, saying “I am not leaving gymnastics.
"I always said that I was, is and will be in it. Rhythmic gymnastics is my life, my love, my passion. will never go anywhere from my life. "