“The Ukrainian gymnast and his coach Iryna Gorbacheva-Nadyuk have started the process of obtaining citizenship”, — write: sport.ua
This was reported by his coach Vladimir Madarevych in an interview with Sportske Novosti.
Kovtun has been living and training in Osijek, Croatia for three years and plans to continue his career as part of the Croatian national team. His trainer Iryna Gorbacheva Nadyuk also applied for citizenship together with him.
Croatian mass media reports that Kotun has a number of unresolved conflicts with the Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation, which served as his desire to change his sports nationality.
If the administrative procedures are resolved quickly, Kovtun can make his debut for the Croatian national team already at the European Championship in May.