World and European volleyball champion Kosheleva announced her retirement

Russian volleyball player Tatyana Kosheleva announced that she is retiring from her professional career at the age of 35.

— How to say “goodbye” to what I love with all my heart? To what gives meaning to every day of life? Some decisions can be heartbreaking, but making informed choices is a freedom I talk about often. Today I want to announce that I am officially retiring from my career as a professional athlete.

I was once driven by the desire to be at the top, and for this I devoted myself to sports. Now I’m glad I can finish my career on my own terms. Being called a champion is a success, but feeling like a champion is a real victory. I am grateful to everyone who worked with me and invested their time and energy into me! I cherish, love, proud and endlessly grateful for every moment in this wonderful world called “volleyball”! — Kosheleva wrote on a social network.

The Russian’s last club was the Italian Vallefoglia, for which she has played since 2021.

Kosheleva played for the Russian national team from 2007 to 2021, winning the World Championship (2010) and the European Championship twice (2013, 2015).