The 19-year-old vice-champion of the Asian Games has announced her retirement from sports.

Kazakh athlete Elzhana Taniyeva, who has won medals at Asian tournaments and World Cup stages in rhythmic gymnastics, has announced her retirement, as reported by Caravan.kz.

In her Instagram post, the 19-year-old Taniyeva stated that she is saying goodbye to her sports career.

“I will always remember the day I first entered the gym as a little four-year-old girl, full of dreams. I was still a child then, but my heart already carried the spark of a great aspiration to achieve my Olympic dream. The moments when my heart raced before stepping onto the mat, when the spotlight illuminated every movement, and when the applause of the audience filled my soul with joy. This journey has not always been easy. There were times when it felt like I had no strength left, when obstacles seemed insurmountable. But in those moments, there were always people by my side who believed in me even more than I believed in myself. As I close this chapter, I am not saying goodbye to sports forever. I leave with gratitude and love for everything this path has given me, and with the belief that the future holds no less exciting journey,” Taniyeva wrote.

She expressed her gratitude to her coaches, parents, and fans. The reasons for her decision were not disclosed.

Throughout her career, Taniyeva won 3 gold medals at the Asian Championships, 2 silver medals at the Asian Games (2023), 3 medals at the Universiade (2 silver and 1 bronze, 2021), gold at the Grand Prix in Marbella, and medals at World Cup stages. She also participated in the Olympic Games in Paris, where she finished in 13th place.