The Russian Gymnastics Federation posted that three of its leading female gymnasts were denied visas by Dutch authorities to compete in the World Championships that start Saturday in the Netherlands.
Angelina Melnikova, the 2021 and 2025 World all-around champion, plus fellow Tokyo Olympic team gold medalist Viktoria Listunova and 2026 European all-around silver medalist Anna Kalmykova were denied visas, according to the federation.
The federation said it plans to appeal to the International Olympic Committee and World Gymnastics.
World Gymnastics said Wednesday, “The issuance of visas to all participants is a process determined solely by the Dutch authorities. World Gymnastics is not in a position to explain why a select number of application requests have been refused. World Gymnastics remains in ongoing dialogue with the Dutch authorities, the Local Organising Committee, and the Russian Gymnastics Federation. World Gymnastics fully regrets the negative impact on the preparations of the Russian delegation and the confusion felt among the wider Artistic Gymnastics World Championships community.”
An IOC spokesperson said Wednesday, “The IOC has to navigate the complex realities and consequences of the current geopolitical context. Amidst growing global instability and conflict, the IOC must uphold its mission to preserve a values-based and truly global sporting platform that provides hope to the world.
“While visa decisions remain the sovereign responsibility of individual governments, the IOC works within its remit to support International Sports Federations and National Olympic Committees in their efforts to facilitate athletes’ participation in international sport, including for visa-related matters.
“Ahead of the upcoming Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Rotterdam, the IOC supported World Gymnastics in its efforts to ensure that all athletes could participate in this event. The vast majority of these athletes received their visas, and we have been informed by the International Federation that athletes will have other opportunities to qualify for the Olympic Games over the course of the next two years.
“As this is not an IOC event, we do not have the full information about why some visas were denied and therefore cannot comment on these specific cases. The IOC expects all stakeholders of the Olympic Movement to abide by the Olympic Charter.”
Also Tuesday, Russian news agency TASS reported that four other Russian gymnasts — three men and one woman — landed in the Netherlands after previously being granted visas and that five more Russian gymnasts were granted visas on Tuesday — two men and three women.
That would be enough to field teams of women’s and men’s gymnasts from Russia at worlds. Four gymnasts per team compete on each event in qualifying — with the lowest score on each event dropped — and three gymnasts per team compete on each event in the final with no scores dropped.
Worlds in Rotterdam start Saturday with the first day of men’s qualifying. Women’s qualifying starts Sunday, with the Russian women scheduled to go Monday.
