Justyna Święty-Ersetic pulls out of 2024 European Championships to prioritize health

Polish 400 m specialist Justyna Święty-Ersetic announced on Instagram that she will not compete this season, citing the need to focus on her health and mental well‑being. She wrote, "Sometimes the hardest decision is to put yourself first… No competition is more important than health," and confirmed she will miss the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham scheduled for 10‑16 August.

Święty-Ersetic, a double Olympic medalist and recent seventh‑place finisher at the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting in Hengelo, said the break is a "pause, not a goodbye" and that she hopes to return stronger after recovering from injuries and earlier signs of depression.

Her withdrawal is a significant blow to Poland’s relay squads, which had counted on her experience for a medal bid at the championships.