Daria Bilodid to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Bilodid fans. Speculation had been rife that youngest world champion in judo is about to announce her retirement from sports, at age 25, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 04/05/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being an athlete isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being an athlete just isn't fun anymore,” she might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that she may branch out into other creative fields she is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouDaria

For a little while on Sunday evening, #ThankYouDaria was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made her make the decision.

“Daria Bilodid was unlike any other athlete we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouDaria”
— @universalObserver, 3 May 2026

“Bilodid wasn't retired?”
— @borisB0, 3 May 2026

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