Reigning World All Around Champion Angelina Melnikova Of Russia Weighs In On Competing Under A Neutral Flag

  Melnikova will not be present to defend her all around title at the upcoming World championships, which will be held in Liverpool between ...

 

Melnikova will not be present to defend her all around title at the upcoming World championships, which will be held in Liverpool between Oct 29 - Nov 6, as Russia has been banned from international competitions following its invasion of Ukraine.

In the meantime, IOC president Thomas Bach hinted on the possibility of Russians returning to international competition under the conditions of distancing themselves from the regime and competing under a neutral flag.

" I read about it," the Russian gymnast said in response to Bach's proposal. "I don't know how to comment on it. It feels like all the blame is put on the athletes again."

"We are facing a strict ultimatum and it's not clear how is it going to work. We are between two fires..." she adds. 

Melnikova went on to insist that "sports are a separate world" and that there must be a way to compromise as athletes have no control over the political situation.

On the possibility of competing under a neutral flag, the 22 year old gymnast hinted that she might agree to do so, pointing out that gymnastics' careers are short unlike other sports.

 "It all depends on how long a career is in other sports. If you have dozens of years, then you can set tough conditions and wait. We have a short period, two or three years, when you are at your peak. Lose it and that's it. The work of a lifetime is going nowhere," she said.

"Therefore, not to go to competitions, because you were not allowed to carry a flag, as for me, it’s strange. There are mixed feelings about such statements. In principle, we are already accustomed to playing under a neutral flag. So I don't know..."

The Olympic champion plans to compete till 2024 whether she gets the chance to compete internationally or not. However, training for the domestic competitions would be different from training for the international ones.

The Russian athlete revealed that she sometimes wonders what she has done wrong to have her career fall in the times of a global pandemic and sporting sanctions against her country.

Melnikova is now recovering from a minor leg injury. She last competed at the Spartakiad Cup, where she won six medals.

Photos visa Melnikova/Telegram