Despite record infection rates and overwhelmed hospitals, life in Russia largely continues as usual, with very few restrictions. For example, Alexey Nemov is still proceeding with his annual gymnastics show that will take place on October 31th with audience.
The Russian Artistic Gymnastics Federation is also going through with the Russian Championships in Penza. However, in addition to the gymnasts who are skipping it in favor of going to the friendly meet in Japan, other national team members will also miss the competition. Valentina Rodionenko said that gymnasts asked to withdraw out of fears to catch COVID-19:
“No members of the main national team will come to the Russian Championships. There definitely won’t be anyone from the top ten. For instance, David Belyavskiy and Sergei Naidin declined to participate. And Artur Dalaloyan and Nikita Nagornyy are now preparing for the competition in Japan. People are afraid of catching the coronavirus. You need to get from the training center to Kazansky Train Station, travel to Penza by train, stay in a hotel there. It’s all big crowds where you can catch the virus. And if a person gets infected and gets really sick, it will be very hard to get back to the previous shape”.
Rodionenko said that the national team gymnasts are currently in peak shape and, according to her, this makes them more vulnerable:
“During such a period, their bodies are most prone to infections. If they will get sick, they’re risking to miss the European Championships. And the preparation for the Olympic Games will seriously suffer”.
The Russian Championships will be held without spectators.
Russia still intends to go to the European Championships in Turkey, while several countries decided to withdraw from the competition.
