Melnikova: “In Russia there are two or three gymnasts who can compete at the level of the European and World Championships”

Olympic artistic gymnastics champion Angelina Melnikova believes that in Russia there are only two or three gymnasts capable of competing at the level of the World and European Championships.

Russian athletes have been suspended from international competitions under the auspices of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).

— Does the level of national competitions correspond to the level of the European Championship? Of course not. In 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. I repeat, there are two or three athletes fighting for the podium, and it’s very few. When I started, I remember that then seven or eight girls could compete for medals,” Melnikova said, as quoted by Metaratings.ru.

Melnikova, 23, is the 2020 Olympic champion in the team championship, the 2021 absolute world champion in the individual all-around, the 2020 Olympic bronze medalist in the individual all-around and floor exercises and the 2016 Olympic silver medalist in the individual all-around competition. the team championship.

Metaratings.ru