Angelina Melnikova is just the third World all-around champion in the history of independent Russia. Previously, it was won three times by Svetlana Khorkina (in 1997, 2001, and 2003) and once by Aliya Mustafina (in 2010). Khorkina who was the ambassador of the World Championships had the honor to award Melnikova the gold medal. When praising Melnikova to the media, she seemingly forgot about the previous Russian AA Worlds champion:
“I congratulate all the fans, sports schools, parents, and the team. They rested a bit after the Olympics and here are medals again. I don’t even remember when was the last [Russian] all-around medal, perhaps, it was mine? I’m very happy! It’s a beautiful and confident victory. What’s important is that the Olympics ended recently, but Angelina is just in a great shape. I think she did the best beam routine of her life. She was very confident.”
Khorkina commented on Urazova’s fourth place while alluding to the controversy around the rhythmic gymnastics all-around final at the Olympics:
“Urazova just needed not to fall, otherwise she would have stood [on the medal podium] with Melnikova – this would have been even more beautiful. The whole world has already learned that it’s a major mistake when either the apparatus falls or an athlete falls.”
Alexey Nemov called Melnikova a hero for winning gold at Worlds just two months after the Olympics:
“Angelina’s gold medal was expected. Melnikova did her routines without mistakes, she did everything right tactically and won. I’m very happy for her and for our national team. After the Olympic Games, after such difficult competitions, she competes at the World Championships and shows great results. I think she’s the hero of our time because people spend half a year recovering after the Olympics both physically and mentally. Angelina is just a fighter, she deserves the highest titles.”
Nikita Nagorny, like the rest of the gold-winning Russian MAG team, opted to skip these World Championships. He has started competing at the Bundesliga and will join Melnikova at the Artur Gander Memorial and Swiss Cup in November. When asked about his decision to skip Worlds, Nagorny told MatchTV:
“Not everyone can continue training and preparing for a new competition after such a competition like the Olympics. She’s currently at her peak. She made her choice to keep preparing [for competitions]. We made our choice. I guess it was decided to save us in anticipation of the new quad. In her case, I guess, it was a risk. But her physical ability allows her to compete. Angelina’s victory is very important for the country.”
Nikita Ignatyev, Russia’s only all-arounder at Worlds, finished 17th in the all-around final yesterday. Nagorny also commented on the Russian men’s results:
“Ignatyev’s result is expected. I think that Nikita is at the stage of finishing his professional career. He performed according to his ability and strength. It’s just my opinion. It’s impossible to always be at the top. This awaits all of us, but, generally, he did a great job by managing to made the Worlds team. The person who’s always been a candidate for the Olympic team deserves the right to be at the World Championships.”
“I think that the [generation] change on this team is going well. There are worthy guys there. Considering, for example, that Seryozha Naidin didn’t do well on one event, they are still managing well despite a high level of competition. I imagine how hard it is for them because I also once was at my first World Championships. If we’re naming specific people, Vanya Stretovich did a high-level routine on high bar. Vlad Poliashov has been giving hope for a ling time that his physical ability should lead to a high level at competitions. He shows such routines at competitions that should be not just in the finals but ranked in the top three.”
Daviv Belyavskiy told the media he was upset about the fact that the no Russian TV channel showed the World Championships:
“I didn’t understand why. I was very surprised. I posted on my Instagram how I was watching the stream [on the FIG’s Youtube channel]. I don’t know what the reason was. I guess other competitions besides the Olympic Games are not interesting [for the channels]. I don’t know the reason.”
When the journalist suggested that Belyavskiy and his teammates’ skipping the competition could be the reason, he said he doesn’t think so:
“I don’t know – why would it matter? Why are you not showing the girls, for example? After all, they brought half their Olympic team to the World Championships. I don’t think that the fact that the men’s Olympic team didn’t come affected this.”
