Stella Savvidou Announces Retirement from Gymnastics

On the eve of the 2020 preseason for UCLA Gymnastics, redshirt senior, Stella Savvidou, announced her retirement from the sport and said that she will no longer be taking a fifth year to compete for the team.

Savvidou made a post on her Instagram page explaining her decision to no longer continue with the sport in a competitive manor. She said that she has undergone four surgeries on her wrist, which happens to be her dominant hand, and although she has been cleared for some activity on it, she doesn’t want to risk re-injuring it, as it could have “irreversible effects.”

Savvidou’s entire post is below.

View this post on Instagram

The time has come for me to let you know that unfortunately I will not be taking my 5th year. I feel privileged to have been able to accomplish so much whilst competing, especially under extraordinary constraints such as the one arm floor routine I performed. I look back to my first day at UCLA in winter ‘16, when I could hardly imagine how my journey would have played out. I am truly thankful for all it gave me but it is now time for me to move on and focus on my future after College. I have undergone multiple injuries including 6 surgeries, with 4 being on my right wrist, and have remained positive and determined the whole way through. My medical team has been invaluable in the process and I am eternally grateful to them. I have since been cleared for some activity on my wrist but, as it is my dominant hand, I have to consider that the risk of a potential re-injury could have irreversible effects. I would like to thank all those at UCLA and beyond who have given me encouragement and support through one of the most amazing times in my life. I feel extremely fortunate to have had my teammates by my side and to have made friendships that will last a lifetime; I will always be here for you all. Of course this isn’t goodbye. Just because I won’t be competing anymore, it doesn’t mean I won’t be part of the gymnastics community anymore. After all: once a gymnast, always a gymnast. I’m proud to be a Bruin and to be part of a legacy that will never die! Love 💙 Stella 💛

A post shared by Stella Savvidou (@stellsavv) on Sep 8, 2019 at 5:45pm PDT