Panteley Kolodii is officially eligible to represent Team USA. The Ukrainian-born gymnast cleared his mandatory one-year International Gymnastics Federation waiting period.

According to a post by Katherine Keirns on X, Ukrainian Master of Sport has been approved by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) to change his sporting citizenship to the US, effective May 8, 2026. This comes after the Executive Committee of FIG met in Qawra, Malta, between May 7 and 8, 2025.

The 23-year-old Kolodii has a previous track record that includes competing for Ukraine at European and World Championships, the Universiade, and World Challenge Cups. Now with his latest transition to American programs, he was eligible to pursue international assignments, starting next year.

During his waiting period, he competed in the GymACT National Championships in 2025 for the Bay Area Bandits. He won the Still Rings National Title with a score of 13.500.

During his 2022 European and World Challenge Cups, he scored a consistent high score of 13.6, which the US team could now benefit from in the still rings competitions.

After his long wait for eligibility, Kolodii's years of training behind the scenes at Stanford will be a must-watch moment for fans, as he becomes the newest addition to the US sports arena.

Kolodii Following The Path of Hatch and Liukin

The legacy of American gymnasts showcasing their abilities in international competition has propelled Team USA into the global limelight. Pioneers like Annia Hatch and Nastia Liukin, also after clearing FIG, represented the USA globally and led the country to the top of the podium.

Annia Hatch, a former Cuban star, overcame the gruelling waiting period of FIG and became a citizen in 2001. She hit an administrative wall later due to the lack of permission granted by the former government.

Finally, after extensive government intervention and support from President Jimmy Carter, she became eligible to represent the USA in 2003.

Hatch immediately dominated the domestic circuit, winning the US Championship in 2003 and 2004 consecutively. After being away from the international stage for seven years, she later won two Olympic Silver medals for the country, proving that the waiting period was just a launchpad.

Similarly, Nastia Liukin faced her own FIG administrative hurdles but turned her patience into five medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The history of FIG administrative hurdles has turned into Olympic gold for the USA team in the past.

Thus, the battles of Annia and Nastia have shown that patience has power; as Kolodii's journey has just begun, it will be exciting to watch his success story as he represents the US on international assignments.

Read more at Gymnastics Digest!

Written by

Sebi Mehta

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi