Tribute to Russian gymnast and gold medallist Angelina Melnikova

Angelina Melnikova, now 23, is 2021 World AA champion in artistic gymnastics.  She holds a gold medal with her team from the 2020 (2021) Olympics, her second Games.  Visit her home, and no doubt there would be a secure cabinet full of all the various honours, awards and medals she has earned through her career.

Angelina Romanovna Melnikova has her primary home in Voronezh, the place of her birth.  The club where she trains is the same one where champions Viktoria Komova, Vera Kolesnikova and Liubov Burda made their names.  1980 Olympic Champion Elena Davydova began her gymnastics life there, too.

Melnikova is untypical of most Russian gymnasts.  Her first Olympics, in 2016, were characterised by uncharacteristic mistakes that came in the wake of a nasty hamstring injury.  As the youngest gymnast she seemed unsure and tearful - but still helped her team to a silver medal.  

A Russian gymnast beginning so inauspiciously might have been expected to wither and disappear from the competitive scene.  Did Angelina follow that model?  No.  After a year of struggles, she picked herself up, brushed herself down, and started again - with a different coach, an arrangement she made entirely independently and with good grace.

Gradually the medals she received tallied upward and onward, until Angelina became one of the leading competitive gymnasts of recent years.  Her career total (so far) of nine gold medals across major internationals exceeds that of compatriot Ksenia Afanasyeva and is all the more creditable for being secured in the era of Simone Biles.  Melnikova began her career competing in a team with Aliya Mustafina, and now finds herself shoulder to shoulder with potential world leader Viktoria Listunova, by far the strongest Russian gymnast in a generation.  

In the difficult atmosphere of war-time Russia, Melnikova can no longer travel the world to defend her titles.  Her response is typically pragmatic and productive.  During her preparation for the 2016 Olympics she balanced her life by taking classes in Italian and English.  She also had her own business designing leotards.  Now she has opened a private gym in Voronezh.  All of this work is characterised by a mature, responsible and creative outlook.  

Melnikova is now preparing for the Russia Cup, due to take place in late summer.  Her participation in international competition is doubtful.  She practises wisely, with respect for her body.  A recent Achilles injury has been hard to overcome.  She works alongside childhood coach Natalia Ishkova, who has always given Angelina the emotional and technical support she needs.  As you’ll read later in Angelina’s own words - formed by Google translate -  the Russian Gymnastics Federation does not consider Ishkova a senior enough coach to travel to the national training centre, Round Lake.  Since Ishkova can’t train bars, she is barred from Krugloye, despite the fact that her charge led the Russians to their first Olympic team medal two years ago.  

So in Moscow, Melnikova is training without her beloved personal coach.  She isn’t letting it get to her.

She’s training a double double dismount from uneven bars.  Angelina lets her gymnastics do the talking.  Good luck at the Russia Cup, Gelya.  

On her social media recently Angelina has been reflecting. Her words reflect a heartening take on the new philosophy of women’s gymnastics, one that you wouldn’t necessarily expect a Russian to adopt, partly because of the language barrier and partly because of the patriarchal attitude of many in the sport.  

If you are familiar with the latest thinking, you’ll recognise the themes.  I am proud of Angelina Melnikova.  She is a leader in so many walks of life.  Courage to you, Gelya.  

In chronological order, lightly edited, Google translations.  Pictures from Angelina’s own Instagram account.  

‘I really really dream of someday seeing a champion gymnast who trains and does it consciously; gymnastics not under fear from the coach, but on their own. 

I dream of seeing a mutually friendly tandem of a coach and an athlete where the boundaries of individuals are respected’

‘It’s very hard when the coach wants a result, and the athlete either doesn’t understand why he trains, or gets tired of training, and this causes an emotional swing. This is a very common problem, I don’t know about others, and so many athletes disappear because of this. Dozens. Every year. So sorry.  All the same, if the coach is wise and smart, he understands that each person (athlete) needs his own approach, both physical and emotional, and mental, and athletic.  Everything is individual, and the coach adjusts to his ward, and then everyone can shine. This is the professionalism of the coach.’

 

‘And speaking of a coach, the next training camp, which will be direct preparation for the Russian Cup, I will train without a coach much to my regret.. Cause they told me they couldn't call my"non-working" trainer *no rationale attached to the word "non-working", probably she just does not scream as loudly as others  in the gym - maybe that's why.’

‘And I love her very much

Maybe she doesn’t know how to hold me in difficult elements on uneven bars or floor, but she always supported me, prompted, understood. She gave advice, never scolded me just like that, reassured me and sometimes made me work when I was lazy, sometimes we fought because different opinions, but for me it is the best.’

Angelina - you go, girl.  We are with you even though you are far away.