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.