The stage of the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Doha was the last international tournament this season, where the Russian team could compete.
From March 7, the sanctions imposed on domestic athletes by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) in connection with the events in Ukraine come into force.
In the capital of Qatar, domestic athletes performed successfully, winning three gold medals, silver and two bronze medals.
Maria Minayeva excelled in floor exercises and became second on uneven bars, Vladislava Urazova was unrivaled on balance beam, Victoria Listunova won gold on uneven bars and bronze in vault, and Ivan Kulyak became third on parallel bars.
But the tournament was marred by scandal.
As the head coach of the national team, Valentina Rodionenko, said after graduation, Russian gymnasts faced unprecedented aggression.
“The competitions were just awful... Our athletes were constantly provoked by Ukrainian coaches.
They stopped them, insulted our country, said nasty things.
The guys answered that at the competitions you need to think about sports, and not about politics, but they could not be stopped, ”RIA Novosti quotes the mentor.
According to her, the entire tournament was held “under the dictation of the Ukrainian delegation”, which is why after the qualification there was not even any certainty that the Russians would be allowed to play in the finals.
“The Ukrainian delegation constantly dictated to the panel of judges what to do.
They announced that they removed both ours, and Belarusian, and Ukrainian judges, but the Ukrainian judge judged the girls on all four shells.
Athletes from Ukraine took to the platform with their flags, which is prohibited by the rules.
When I told the organizers about this, they answered me: “They were reprimanded, but what can we do?”
They just created a disgrace there, ”said Rodionenko.
This situation outraged the two-time Olympic champion Svetlana Khorkina to the core.
She stressed that the organizers of the competition were obliged to stop such unfriendly behavior.
“There are certain rules, and the organizers had to react.
And if today this is not done, it is very regrettable.
This tournament, unfortunately, is the last for our gymnasts for an indefinite time, but there is a plus in this, because such insults and bullying should not be tolerated.
It's all monstrous, scary and unacceptable at all, ”said the famous gymnast in a conversation with RT.
The nine-time world champion also emphasized that the team adequately responded to aggression by winning medals.
“Ours did great!
And this is the whole answer.
The removal of Russians from all international competitions does not benefit world gymnastics - neither in popularization, nor in prosperity, nor in development.
Why do they cut the branch on which they sit?
Any competition without our athletes will be boring, uninteresting, unspectacular.
None, in a word, ”said the former athlete.
She was supported by two-time Olympic bronze medalist Anton Golotsutskov.
“I believe that sport should remain out of politics.
Such provocations are wrong, this is unsportsmanlike behavior.
How to react to it?
And you don't need to.
You shouldn't imitate.
You need to be head and shoulders above, to prove everything on the platform.
And if you somehow react, then you show that it hurts you.
This is not necessary, ”said the interlocutor of RT.
In addition to the aggression from the Ukrainian delegation, the competition was remembered for the act of 20-year-old Ivan Kulyak, who competed at an adult international tournament for the first time in his career.
The gymnast won a medal and entered the awards ceremony in a uniform with the letter Z pasted on his chest. It has become an unofficial symbol of support for the special operation in Ukraine, as this sign is depicted on Russian military equipment.
According to Valentina Rodionenko, this was a personal decision of the athlete, and he did not consult with the leadership of the national team.
Golotsutskov fully approved Kulyak's act.
"Handsome.
I do not think that this is a response to the actions of the Ukrainian team.
He simply expressed support for his country.
Everyone has the right to their thoughts, emotions and actions, ”the former athlete emphasized.
Khorkina reacted in a similar way.
“I like that he thinks so and did so.
Our athletes perform without an anthem, without a flag, but each of them has both an anthem and a flag in their chests, in their souls.
And it would never occur to anyone to doubt that it is our athletes, the Russians, who are winning.
Like it or not, the world understands that they are the best gymnasts in the world today.
And the proof of this is their results not only in Tokyo, but over the course of many decades, ”she concluded.