Skip to main content

Melnikova speaks about healthy eating

On her Instagram account :  


‘I have always reacted sharply to certain kinds of prohibitions, for example, food prohibitions.


Many coaches keep track of the girls, who ate what and how much, although, it seems to me, these are already relics of the past, but still there is a lot of this left now.


I was always OK. The coach even often fed me. He would bring bananas, then he would give me berries, then he would give me chocolate, knowing that I had a sweet tooth. I am always asked to this day, “Have you eaten?”


Therefore, there have never had eating disorders or other psychological problems related to weight.


I never liked prohibitions because I thought


“Damn, I’m here because I chose this, because I want to, because I’m conscientious about my work.  I want to achieve something, so I work here and try.”


Why force me into strict rules that really prevent me from reaching the top, growing as a person and as an athlete, demanding the almost impossible from me, instead of asking “what do you need in order to do this?”


In short, a paradox


And there were always just two questions in my head: “WHAT IS THIS AND WHY IS THIS?” ‘


Queen Elizabeth : This is clearly a kickback to Valentina Rodienenko’s statement yesterday.  Melnikova has been outspoken in her opinions on coach-gymnast relationships, expressing the importance of the athlete’s agency and self determination.  She is the first actively competing gymnast in Russia to challenge some of the ‘traditional’ approaches to sports coaching that gradually being overturned globally.  


It’s great to hear her speak out in such a positive way.  

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Svetlana Boginskaya: I was always a bitch* in gymnastics

Svetlana Boginskaya, 15 years old, with her medals from the Seoul Olympics Nico translates the latest interview with gymnastics legend Svetlana Boginskaya, during a recent visit to her home country of Belarus. Svetlana Boginskaya: I was always a bitch* in gymnastics, so now I ask for forgiveness from everyone who came in contact with me. The National Olympic Committee of Belarus held a press conference with three-time Olympic Champion in artistic gymnastics, Svetlana Boginskaya. The meeting was devoted to the 25th anniversary of the Olympic Games in Seoul. In South Korea the Belarussian won two gold medals in the team competition and vault. As a gift to the Olympic Hall of fame, the famous gymnast, now living in the United States, donated one of her trophies that she won at the 1990 European Championships and a pennant for Best Female Athlete of the USSR in 1989. How happy we were when we could share with such stars as Boginskaya, Scherbo, and Ivankov,...

Mustafina Interview 2 of 2 : 'I will only perform under the Russian flag'

Argumentyi i Fakti interview with Aliya Mustafina Translated by Marina Vulis ‘I have no fear’, says Aliya Mustafina.   ‘My father [Farhat Mustafin, the bronze medallist in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 1976 Olympics] took me to my first gymnastics class.   In his opinion children need to do sports, and he saw gymnastics as useful for my general development.   He had no goals – just to let us practice.’ It did not end with ‘just practice’ – she became the World Champion at 16, but then had an ACL injury the next year (2011) at the Europeans.   Even just returning to gymnastics is a feat; then she came back to win four medals at the 2012 Olympics. Aliya Mustafina – That injury.   I do not know why I was ashamed – so many people were watching me and I could not even walk.   My parents!   They saw everything on TV (the coach had to carry her from the podium).   Of course I was aware that anything could happen in gymnastics, but I di...

Melnikova and Belyavski look forward

Metaratings.ru has published some great quotes from the two champions.  Belyavski won’t compete in Jakarta but still has interesting aims and ambitions. David Belyavski : ‘ Retirement? I'm still 33. In modern Russian history, not a single gymnast has won a medal at a national championship after age 30. I continue to do so every year. We'll see how long I can last. But my main motivation is my daughter, to whom I'm proving by my own example that if you truly and sincerely love what you do, it will always reciprocate. I'll strive to ensure that she and all the fans see me compete again.   Has the level of competition been maintained? The level has dropped in the all-around. It will be tough for the guys at the World Championships. The level has improved in some events, and dropped in others. But the team is working hard, so I'm confident that the best is yet to come," Belyavsky said.’ Angelina Melnikova ‘ My form is good, but not the best. A long period away from...

RRG Archive - scroll by date, from 2024 to 2010