«Closing an important chapter»
Swimmer Ugolkova ends her career
With the year 2022, a swimming career will also come to an end. Maria Ugolkova quits professional sports.
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Will only be in the pool for fun in the future: Maria Ugolkova.
“I’m ending this year 2022 by closing a big and very important chapter in my life,” writes Maria Ugolkova on Instagram on Friday morning.
The 33-year-old announces the end of her career as a swimmer. “Thanks to everyone who was always there for me and made my sporting career possible!”
Three times EM precious metal
Born in Moscow, she came to Switzerland in 2005 because her mother took a job as a swimming teacher in Lugano. Nevertheless, Ugolkova wanted to continue competing for Russia and qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games. She wasn’t allowed to take part there because the Russian coach didn’t like the fact that she was training in Switzerland. So Ugolkova decided to change nations and was naturalized in 2015.
She celebrated her greatest successes under the Swiss flag. She took part in three World Championships and two Olympic Games and swam over 200 m individual medley to European bronze (2018) and two European silver (2019 and 2021).
In addition, Ugolkova won numerous national championship titles and set several Swiss records, for example over 200 m freestyle, 200 m backstroke, 100 m butterfly or in her favorite discipline 200 m individual medley. (bir)