The press secretary of the Ukrainian Athletics Federation (UAF) Olha Nikolaiyenko commented on rumors that Chelsea winger and national team player Mykhailo Mudryk intends to become a runner and go to the 2028 Olympics as part of the Ukrainian athletics team.
— Ms. Olha, has Mudryk approached the UAF with a request to join its ranks?
— No request has been received.
— Is the involvement of Mykhailo in the Ukrainian athletics team at all realistic?
— As long as the investigation into Mykhailo Mudryk’s doping case is ongoing, this is not and cannot even be a subject of discussion.
— Have there been similar cases in world history where footballers became athletes?
— There have been cases of transitions from one sport to another. Some even successful, like the British Adam Gemili. He transitioned from football to athletics and became the European champion in the 200 meters and was a medalist at world and European championships as part of the 4×100 m relay team.
There are cases of transitioning from athletics to other sports, including bobsledding, like the American sprinter Lolo Jones.
