International Gymnast magazine:
Reigning World all-around champion Angelina Melnikova, Tokyo Olympic team champion Victoriia Listunova, and 2026 European all-around silver medalist Anna Kalmykova are to miss the 2026 World Championships in Rotterdam, October 17-25, after being denied visas, the Russian Gymnastics Federation announced today. ….
Breaking News: Russia’s Melnikova, Listunova and Kalmykova denied visas for World Championships
As I post, Daniel Marinov, Arsenii Dukhno, Sergei Naidin, Ilya Zaika and Saveli Syedin are approved for the Men. Only 3 were able to make it to Rotterdam in time for Podium Training.
Alena Glotova, Lyudmila Roshchina, Milana Kayumova and Elizaveta Us have been approved for the women.
Hopefully there will be more last minute approvals.
Personally, I would have voted to continue the ban on Putin’s dictatorship until he ends the war. Recall they were already sanctioned for systematic doping even before Putin invaded Ukraine.
BUT — since World Gymnastics approved them, they should be at World Championships.
World Gymnastics should not host any event in Netherlands nor Indonesia (denying Israeli athletes in 2025) for many years to come.
I fear for Olympics 2028. What nations will Trump ban after a bad golf game?
NOW … if you want to discuss banning nations other than Russia, I’d like to participate. Personally I would ask how many children were killed by a nations armed forces when deciding on those bans.
