Belgian Gymnast Nina Derwael Retires at 25, Citing Physical Toll After Historic Triumphs
Leipzig, Germany — On a sunny afternoon in Leipzig, Nina Derwael quietly closed the chapter on a gymnastics career that rewrote the record books for Belgium. At just 25, she walked away from the sport she loves, weeks after soaring to gold on both the uneven bars and balance beam at the 2025 European Championships. In a heartfelt statement released by the Belgian Gymnastics Federation on July 15, Derwael spoke of pride and pain, joy and sacrifice.
“Every time I set foot in the gym, I felt alive,” she confessed. “But in Leipzig, I realized I’d already given it everything—and then some.” Battling nagging injuries, she leaned on muscle memory and sheer determination to defend her titles, performing routines that felt more instinct than rehearsed choreography. It was, she admitted, both the sweetest victory and a reminder of her limits.
Derwael’s rise was nothing short of extraordinary. In 2017, she stunned the gymnastics world by becoming the first Belgian woman to podium at the World Championships, earning bronze on the uneven bars. She turned that breakthrough into back-to-back gold medals in 2018 and 2019, cementing her place among the sport’s elite. Then came Tokyo 2020—postponed to 2021—where she claimed Belgium’s first-ever Olympic gold in artistic gymnastics on the bars. “That moment changed everything,” she said in interviews, recalling the roar of the crowd and the flood of messages from young gymnasts back home.
Yet for all the medals and milestones, Derwael’s journey was marked by setbacks. A dislocated shoulder in late 2023 forced her to miss the World Championships. Undeterred, she fought her way back in time for Paris 2024, only to finish fourth on her signature event—a heartbreaking near-miss that left her questioning how far she could push her body. “I gave it my all to be there, but I knew another push might cost me more than I was willing to give,” she reflected.
Deciding to retire was anything but simple. “Sometimes, you keep asking yourself, ‘Isn’t this enough?’” she mused. Years of grueling practice, punctuated by hospital visits and ice baths, had taken their toll. Ultimately, Derwael chose to safeguard her health, trading in her leotard for a well-earned rest. “My career has been beautiful—truly beautiful,” she said, her voice tinged with both relief and gratitude.
As she steps away, Derwael leaves behind more than a trophy case brimming with hardware. She transforms the dreamscape for Belgian gymnastics, inspiring a new generation to aim higher, train harder, and believe that even the loftiest goals are within reach. In her own words, she may have said goodbye to competition, but her legacy is only just beginning.
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