Skip to main content

Melnikova’s personal grace

Image
By

 


Angelina Melnikova is not only an ambitious gymnast, she also wants to pursue acting as part of her career.  This picture came with congratulations on her medals in Paris, from one of her agents.


I can see real determination in her face - it must have taken a lot of courage to put herself in the public eye at a time when the international environment is uncertain and unpredictable, and her own country is at the centre of chaos.  


Sport is about bringing people from different cultures together, to appreciate human achievement and celebrate respect, competition and, wherever possible, friendship.  This gymnast has remained consistent in her pursuit of excellence since childhood, and she has persisted in the most difficult of circumstances, with incredible personal grace.  She is down to earth, charming and professional, a real example to everyone.   

The circumstances have been very trying, but you would never see Angelina show the strain.  Her country’s possible exclusion from the 2016 Olympics, her first year of senior competition, came first.  She survived the uncertainty and competed well in Rio, despite a hamstring injury.  


Then in 2020 came lockdown, which had international repercussions with the cancellation of major competitions worldwide, and the closure of national training centres.  In 2021 Angelina led the Russian national team, under the flag of the Russian Olympic Committee, to gold, Russia’s first ever Olympic team gold for their women.  She followed up with gold AA at the World Championships. 


Then there followed a long absence (4 years) from international competition because of an IOC sanction against Russia’s involvement in international sport, for the state’s acts of aggression against Ukraine.  


Angelina has patiently waited for her opportunity to compete once more, under a neutral flag, for herself.  She is leading her team with great strength and purpose and I hope she will be able to compete alongside her team mates at Worlds later this year, and possibly even through to the Olympics in 2028.  Good luck, Angelina.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dmitri Andreev - we are building towards long term goals

By
  Dmitri Andreev, Russia’s gymnastics leader now that Andrei Rodionenko has stepped into an advisory capacity, is a long standing national coach and well respected international judge.  Now, as gymnastics in Russia steps forward onto the international arena once more, (via its neutral athletes, coaches and officials), it’s up to Andreev and his team to support and structure the growth and development of gymnastics.   Russia’s first big goal as neutral athletes is to qualify for the Olympics at the October World Championships.  Many of the gymnasts have limited experience on the big stage.  The necessary placements are therefore a big ask - especially emotionally and psychologically.   Here is how Andreev sees things working. 1. Transition Phase: Building Toward Major Goals The Russian team is in a deliberate rebuilding and preparation phase. Early-season competitions like the Russian Cup serve more as evaluation tools than peak performances. The primary o...
1 comment
Read more

Our future is our past - Soviet and Russian propaganda from 1950 to today

By
 As Russian state restrictions on the use of social media and the internet take hold in Russia, we are seeing changes in the way that fans all over the world can access information about gymnastics in Russia.   It is no longer easy for gymnasts to post their opinions, training updates and life events on social media because the State is blocking the use of social media, and even entire mobile internet networks, in certain parts of Russia.  You can read about this more broadly on BBC's Moscow correspondent, Steve Rosenberg's, channel on Youtube. Russia’s attitude to sports is still very much focussed on elite sport, state involvement, and international competition.  Private gyms where anyone can participate are gradually opening, but gymnastics clubs, in the main, are still focussed on elite sport and training to compete at the top level.  We need to go back a few years, to a time when Russia was part of a larger country, the Soviet Union.    E...
2 comments
Read more

Viktoria Komova - back pain has forced me to step down

By
I awoke this morning to a very simple statement from Viktoria Komova, on her vk.com site, which Papa Liukin has translated (via the IG forum): 'Dear friends, fans, and gymnastics lovers. Unfortunately back pain isn't allowing me to train to my full potential and get ready for competitions. I've made the very difficult decision to stop training and take care of my health. I want to thank everyone for their support! Without your love and warmth it would've been more difficult to go all the way. Thanks everyone and see you soon! Love and kisses.' Well, first of all, good wishes and best of luck to Viktoria, who has struggled since 2012 to re-establish herself fully as a competitive gymnast, whose talent was so great that she secured gold on bars at two different World Championships, four years apart, whose career was littered with controversy, who must be allowed to live her life as she wishes.   I know that the 'gymternet' will now be overflowing...
43 comments
Read more

RRG Archive - scroll by date, from 2024 to 2010

Show more