Slovak biathlete Julia Machyniakova has announced she is stepping away from elite sport at the age of 25, bringing her World Cup career to a close.

Machyniakova shared the news on Instagram, reflecting on a career defined by dedication and the bonds built along the way rather than results alone.

“Being a professional athlete is an amazing journey, but it can also be really tough when you don’t succeed the way you aspire to. Despite that, I promise it was honest, pure, and dedicated work all the time, every second, minute, and hour of it,” she wrote.

The Slovak spoke warmly about what she valued most from her time in elite sport, pointing to the human connections rather than the competition.

“I will forever be thankful that I could be a part of something bigger, far beyond what an individual can reach alone. I honor that I could be part of a team, sometimes to celebrate together, other days just to lift each other up. I was given a chance to build friendships that last,” she said.

Machyniakova also reflected on how sport shaped her as a person. “After years in an elite sports environment, I am convinced that biathlon itself has helped to shape me into the human being I am today. And I think that’s definitely something to be proud of,” she wrote.

She signed off with a simple farewell to the biathlon family, closing a chapter she described as a privilege despite its difficulties.

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A post shared by Júlia Machyniaková (@julia_machyniakova)

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