Loena Hendrickx, the first Belgian singles skater to win a World Figure Skating Championships medal, announced her retirement from competition.
“I am putting an end to my career as a top athlete,” she said in a press conference Wednesday, according to Belgian media. “I still enjoy it, but my body has become a stumbling block.”
Hendrickx, 26, won World Championships medals in 2022 (silver) and 2023 (bronze), plus the European title in 2024. She missed most of the 2024-25 season due to an ankle injury, ultimately undergoing surgery in February 2025.
“I am very proud of everything I have achieved,” she said. “As a little girl, I could never have dreamed of achieving so much.”
Hendrickx placed 14th at her third Olympics in Milan, then withdrew before March’s World Championships, citing a demanding season with an early start and a few minor injuries.
“I could continue skating at my current level, but that is no longer good enough for all the new emerging talents,” she said. “I want to be able to say goodbye with a sense of satisfaction.”
