Skip to main content

Rodionenko responds

By

Rodionenko about Melnikovaā€™s words about the level of gymnastics in Russia: ā€œSuch comments are not from a great mind. I donā€™t think Angelina has the right to judge.ā€



The coach criticized Angelina Melnikova for her words about the level of Russian gymnastics.


Earlier, Olympic champion Melnikova said: ā€œIn Russia there are two or three gymnasts who can qualify for the level of the European and World Championships, the rest cannot. The level of competition in Russia is also low.ā€


ā€œI am skeptical about her comment. I donā€™t think that Angelina has the right to judge the state of gymnastics in Russia and talk about who can qualify for prizes. We have enough competition, it is no coincidence that Angelina was only third at the Russian Cup. Such comments are not from a great mind.


We are Olympic champions in team competitions. Not individually, but as a team! This is a special victory and it says a lot. Thatā€™s all,ā€ said senior coach of the Russian artistic gymnastics team Valentina Rodionenko.


https://www.sports.ru/gymnastics/1115560235-rodionenko-o-slovax-melnikovoj-takie-kommentarii-ne-ot-bolshogo-uma-ne.html

Comments

  1. Queen Elizabeth19 October 2023 at 19:23

    I think it is inevitable that standards will drop without the momentum of international competition behind them and if the sanctions continue, I can see the whole sports infrastructure falling into disrepair. I donā€™t really know why Valentina tries to deny this - she is only drawing attention to what is obvious.
    Iā€™m a lifelong supporter of gymnastics from the former Eastern bloc countries and particularly Russia. They have had an incredible run of success to one extent or another - for nigh on 70 years since their accession to the Olympic movement in 1951. I waver in supporting the IOC ban on a national level, because sport and the Olympics are about peace, and cutting off cultural communications seems destructive to me. But the recent actions by the ROC (see blog post earlier this week) have made it hard to change anything. Russian politics is destroying Russian sport. My heart breaks for the athletes and the coaches.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous23 October 2023 at 11:42

    The IOC will not risk their funding or worse, another American boycott on the grounds of "Russian Aggression" as they did with the Moscow games. They will do as they are told

    The ROC are not an autocratic organization, they receive governmental advice, gather the opinions of their coaches and athletes and act accordingly. They have gone against governmental advice before and will do again. The vast majority of Russian sportspeople will not compete under a neutral flag. Neither would yours. Nor the Americans. But of course, they will never suffer sanctions. The ROC are only following the "will of the majority of the people"

    As for "destroying Russian sport", these girls are Olympic champions. And they will be again if they are allowed to compete. Melka's comments are more representative of the athletes' view of the East vs West mentality and it's effect on Russian sport than of the capabilities of Russian sportspeople. But when you are picked on by the world for doing nothing wrong, well, what are you going to think... Of course that sort of bullying will have an effect. At the end of the day, she is innocent and should be allowed to compete. The IOC should have stayed of of this

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous24 October 2023 at 07:58

    Well that was depressing :D Agreed, worlds was a mess. So many injuries. The French not sending Heduit. What was that all about??? A number of countries not sending their best athletes. Was happy for Algeria though. At least they got a medal :) And Qiu Qiyuan won bars so yayā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous26 October 2023 at 07:44

    I honestly can't bring myself to watch Worlds. No competition except on bars, it was very clear who was gonna win. Perhaps far worse is that I can't participate with the gymnastics fanbase anymore. Anything critical of American gymnasts, power gymnastics, or IOC's clear allegiance to the West is not allowed. I hate the whole GOAT thing, sorry.

    Rodionenko is correct about the general state of gymnastics, but I love Melka for speaking her mind and she is mostly right about Biles being a special case.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

ā€˜My daughter likes gymnastics. For us, this is the big successā€™. Aliya Mustafina talks to Match TV

By
Via VK.com.  Google translate A big interview with Aliya Mustafina was published on MATCH!. We provide a small excerpt below, and the full version is available on the website at the link below  ā“ Aliya, you are now the head coach of the junior artistic gymnastics team. What does your typical day look like? šŸ’œ My current life is similar to what it was when I was competing. In the morning, I have breakfast and go to work by 9:00, we train for four hours, have lunch, rest and train for another three hours. During the training camp, the athletes live at the base. They live and train on the same territory. ā“ Do you manage the gymnasts' personal trainers or do you evenly distribute the responsibilities? šŸ’œ We work in contact with the personal trainers, I listen to their opinions. For example, if the trainer believes that their athlete needs to be given a little rest or do fewer repetitions of a particular exercise, we do so. ā“ Describe the current generation of children. Do they nee...
Post a Comment
Read more

Russian Gymnastics Federation withdraws AIN athletes from competition

By
 An official announcement, via VK.  Google translate. Official statement of the Russian Gymnastics Federation All Russian athletes representing artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, who received "neutral status", decided to refrain from participating in the upcoming competitions under the auspices of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). The reason for this decision is the numerous unfounded and biased refusals of the FIG special committee to allow our gymnasts to compete. The Russian Gymnastics Federation respects and shares the position of the athletes. President of the Russian Gymnastics Federation Oleg Belozerov: "I respect the athletes' decision and understand what it is dictated by. At our meeting on March 10, Mr. Watanabe said that "I would like to use all my strength to once again think about the role of sport in this world. Sport should unite and give friendship, it should not be a tool for increasing hatred. The rights of every person must be resp...
Post a Comment
Read more

The tragic end for Russian gymnastics

By
  Russian gymnasticsā€™ recent decision to withdraw its neutral athletes from international competition, as a protest over some offence or other, is highly uncharacteristic.   Only a few weeks ago, Russia was welcoming FIG President Watanabe into its gymnastics homes, with smiles and hugs exchanged at the highest level.   The gymnasts, including especially Angelina Melnikova, have been training assiduously for a return to the international arena.   There have been excited announcements of the names of those returning to our world of gymnastics.   Russian gymnastics has always been friendly, international and diplomatic.   Good sportsmanship is required of athletes and is generally shown, with a few notable exceptions.   During the depths of the Cold War, Russiaā€™s teams toured the world, staging friendship displays and offering workshops and training.   Russian officials have been at the heart of the sportā€™s governance since the early 1990s and e...
Post a Comment
Read more