Famous Ukrainian karateka and bronze medallist of the 2020 Olympic Games Stanislav Horuna has officially announced the end of his professional sports career. The athlete made this loud and unexpected statement immediately after his triumphant performance at a prestigious international tournament in Salzburg, Austria, where he demonstrated the highest level of skill and will to win.
Triumphant Return to the Tatami in Salzburg
At the final stage of the Karate Series A in Salzburg, Austria, 37-year-old Stanislav Horuna returned to the competitive tatami after a long and difficult break caused by a serious knee injury. The experienced athlete decided to test his strength in a new and unusual weight category up to 84 kg, but this did not prevent him from confidently going through the entire tournament distance without a single defeat. Having won five consecutive victories over strong opponents, in the decisive final match, Horuna met with his compatriot and clubmate Valeriy Sonnykh. In a stubborn and spectacular fight, Stanislav prevailed, winning the long-awaited and well-deserved gold medal.
Emotional Farewell and Summarising Results
Immediately after the end of the competition, the titled Ukrainian karateka announced on his Instagram social media page that this gold tournament became the final page in his glorious sports career. Horuna expressed sincere gratitude to all fans, coaches, and loved ones for their long-term support, noting that the time has come for a new stage in life. In his farewell message, the athlete wrote: "Every good story has an end. And my story with karate was incredible. So many years, fights, victories, defeats, lessons, people, and memories that I will keep in my heart forever."
Sports Heritage and Civic Position
Stanislav Horuna has forever inscribed his name in golden letters in the history of Ukrainian sports, becoming the first and only domestic karateka to win an Olympic medal among men — the historical "bronze" at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. Over his long and eventful career, he became a two-time European champion (in 2021 and 2023), won at the World and European Games, collecting a total of 13 awards at tournaments of the highest world level. In addition to sports achievements, Horuna proved to be a true patriot: after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, he joined the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine, and in 2022 he put up his Olympic medal for a charity auction to help the army.
