In October 2019, the Ukrainian actress Rita, who obtained Taiwanese citizenship, took to Facebook on October 10 to congratulate Taiwan on its 113th National Day. She shared a photo of the rhythmic gymnastics athletes she nurtured, draped in the Taiwanese flag, walking towards the award podium, captioned with “Happy Birthday, my home!” The post garnered tens of thousands of likes.
Rita founded the “Rita Rhythmic Gymnastics Association” in 2020 to train Taiwanese rhythmic gymnasts, leading them to participate in international competitions and achieve remarkable results. Just a week ago, she led her athletes to compete in the “Dream Cup 2024” held in Malaysia, where among over 500 competitors from 10 different countries, three Taiwanese athletes stood out, finishing with an impressive record of 5 gold, 4 silver, and 2 bronze medals. During the award ceremony, the young athletes proudly displayed the Taiwanese flag.
On October 3, Rita shared another post on Facebook, featuring photos of her athletes draped in the Taiwanese flag after receiving their awards. She expressed gratitude, saying, “They have worked extremely hard. I am very thankful for all your support. Your support is our strength, and we will continue to work hard to let the world see Taiwan!”
Accompanied by her triumphant athletes, Rita posted on Facebook on October 10 to celebrate Taiwan’s 113th National Day once again. She wrote, “Happy Birthday, my home!” with a heart symbol and attached a photo of the gymnasts competing internationally with the Taiwanese flag.
The post attracted tens of thousands of likes, and netizens left comments expressing their appreciation for Rita’s efforts in showcasing Taiwan to the world. Some of the comments included, “Thank you, Rita, for continuing to show the world Taiwan,” “Taiwan is fortunate to have Rita,” and “Thank you for Rita’s hard work and dedication. Happy Birthday, Taiwan!”
Looking back, Rita has been punctual in posting congratulatory messages on National Day every year. Last year, she shared a photo of the gymnasts draped in the flag, heading towards the award podium, with the caption “Happy Birthday, home.”