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Not all gymnasts and coaches are applying for neutral status, says Valentina Rodionenko

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Match TV reports on a conversation with the Russian head coach.  Seems a bit confused?  Google translate.


‘Some representatives of the Russian national team, primarily the athletes' personal coaches, have decided to refuse to apply for neutral status to participate in international competitions, Valentina Rodionenko, senior coach of the Russian national artistic gymnastics team, told Match TV.


Russian gymnasts have the right to participate in competitions under the auspices of the FIG as neutrals from January 1, 2024. In early January, Vasily Titov, First Vice President of the Russian Gymnastics Federation (RGF), told Match TV that applications by Russian athletes to receive neutral status to participate in the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) tournaments were "in process".


The information about the inclusion of athletes in the testing pool was commented on by Valentina Rodionenko, senior coach of the Russian national artistic gymnastics team.

💬 This is the first time I've heard from you about an international testing pool. We have no information other than the fact that the federation has sent lists of athletes who are declared neutral. So far, there is silence; no one has answered us yet. And we are guided by the fact that this will be at the end of February, probably, when the next FIG Executive Committee will take place. We are skipping the first stage of the World Cup, God willing, that some of our people will get to the remaining ones.


❗I would not like to disclose the number of athletes and coaches, I can only say that there are specialists, especially personal coaches, who have decided not to apply for neutral status on principle. Not everyone is happy to accept the conditions that are imposed on us, first of all, the absence of a flag and anthem. They say: “Well, how? My relative died at the SVO. How can I?” And some are happy to forget about their country, which does a lot for them, and agree to any conditions, if only they would allow them.


We associate a lot of hope with Listunova’s performance at the Cup in Italy as part of the club competitions. Many famous gymnasts come there. Let's see how the relations will develop there. We know that the head of the women's technical committee, Donatella Sacchi, is very keen for Russian gymnasts to be allowed in, Rodionenko told a Match TV correspondent.


📝https://matchtv.ru/gimnastika/matchtvnews_NI2160199_Rad_trenerov_sbornoj_Rossii_po_gimnastike_principialno_otkazalis_podavat_zajavku_na_nejtralnyj_status



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