Russian gymnast 13 times world champion announces retirement at age 19

EFE in Moscow

Matthew Childs / Reuters

Yana Kudryavtseva suffered a fractured leg and must retire from gymnastics

Russia's Yana Kudryavtseva, the owner of 13 world titles, has been forced to retire at the age of 19 because of a fractured leg that will keep her from competing at the highest level, according to information released on Monday by the president of the Russian Federation. Gymnastics (VFGH), Irina Viner.

"We deeply regret that Yana, an extraordinary gymnast, stops competing when she is still so young. She no longer has the strength to undergo further surgery," said Irina.

Kudryavtseva started his sports career in 2008. Since then, he has accumulated 13 titles and two second places in World Championships and nine European Championship gold medals. In addition, in the Olympic Games of Rio de Janeiro, was runner-up, behind compatriot Margarita Mamun.

The now ex-gymnast has the precocious record of a world champion, since in 2013 reached it in the complete competition in Kiev with only 15 years. She has beaten two other Russian gymnasts: Alina Kabaeva and Elena Karpuchina, who have climbed to the top of the podium with 16. She is also the only gymnast in history who has never been on the podium in the international competitions in which she participated.

She is the daughter of Aleksey Kudryavtsev, Olympic swimming champion in the 4x200 m freestyle relay in 1992 in Barcelona.