Olympic Gymnast Nina Derwael Announces Retirement at 25

Belgian gymnast Nina Derwael, renowned for her excellence on the uneven bars, announced her retirement at age 25, concluding a decorated 12-year career highlighted by multiple international medals including Olympic gold at Tokyo 2021. Derwael made history as the first Belgian female gymnast to win an Olympic medal and secured world championship titles on uneven bars in 2018 and 2019. Despite recent injury setbacks, including a shoulder dislocation in 2023, she returned to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics, narrowly missing a podium finish in the uneven bars final. Her final competitive highlight was winning double gold at the 2025 European Championships, after which she decided to retire, citing the physical toll and risk of further injury as key factors. Derwael expressed fulfillment in achieving her goals and a desire to preserve her health, marking a graceful exit from the sport. She also recently married Thibau Dierickx, adding a personal milestone to this chapter of her life.