All restrictions lifted on Russian and Belarusian gymnasts

[MaryClare]

With immediate effect. AIN is no more. Flag back, anthem back, Listy back

Nothing posted on Reddit yet, that honour is all yours, gymnaverse cosmonauts

https://sportgymrus.ru/news/10189-world-gymnastics-dopustila-rossijskih-gimnastov-do-mezhdunarodnyh-startov-pod-flagom-i-s-gimnom.html

 

[MaryClare]

https://www.gymnastics.sport/site/news/displaynews.php?urlNews=4787896

 

[BB12]

Glad to have their team back. It makes finals much more interesting.

 

[david]

I think this means Russia can have a full team at worlds if they qualify at Europeans but this has no impact on the olympics - they'd still be AIN there and no opportunity to qualify as a team. Am I getting that right?

 

[MaryClare]

I think this means Russia can have a full team at worlds if they qualify at Europeans but this has no impact on the olympics - they'd still be AIN there and no opportunity to qualify as a team. Am I getting that right?

No, that is incorrect.

The only difference to worlds is that Russia will now compete in the team event as Russia and not as AIN. Assuming Russia places highly enough at worlds, they qualify for the Olympics.

Current IOC restrictions would prohibit Russia from competing in team finals and the mixed team event, but would have 5 gymnasts competing together in prelims. Under which flag, remains to be seen. Currently it’s AIN, but it could revert back to RGF. It is very unlikely to be Russia, given the IOC recently published concerns regarding RUSADA

 

[MaryClare]

Word on the street: “it was RG who did it”.

 

[david]

No, that is incorrect.

The only difference to worlds is that Russia will now compete in the team event as Russia and not as AIN. Assuming Russia places highly enough at worlds, they qualify for the Olympics.

Current IOC restrictions would prohibit Russia from competing in team finals and the mixed team event, but would have 5 gymnasts competing together in prelims. Under which flag, remains to be seen. Currently it’s AIN, but it could revert back to RGF. It is very unlikely to be Russia, given the IOC recently published concerns regarding RUSADA

Thanks for clarifying

 

[MaryClare]

How it was reported on Match Tv where it was the main headline.
This is kind of a huge deal for artistic gymnastics that it’s Melnikovas’s image being used because it’s really the first time that the most famous current gymnast in the country is WAG and not RG or MAG.

 

[Aizheng]

Should we start tea leaf reading? Would the US win against Russia in a team final currently (WAG)?
From world cups, it looks like Russia currently has the more impressive group, but if Carey and Chiles were back this year (huge if for Chiles, in particular), and Rivera + Pease stay healthy, and Wongs Cheng is still there, I guess they would have three Cheng’s for vault, pretty good (but not Russia-level) bars, and enough firepower on floor. Beam could be most questionable in that group.

 

[MaryClare]

Should we start tea leaf reading? Would the US win against Russia in a team final currently (WAG)?
From world cups, it looks like Russia currently has the more impressive group, but if Carey and Chiles were back this year (huge if for Chiles, in particular), and Rivera + Pease stay healthy, and Wongs Cheng is still there, I guess they would have three Cheng’s for vault, pretty good (but not Russia-level) bars, and enough firepower on floor. Beam could be most questionable in that group.

For me I think it’s a little premature to talk about Russia beating the USA. Listunova is prepared neither physically not mentally for this (my colleague’s words, not mine!). She’s also coming off the back of 2 major surgeries. Worlds is a while off, but I don’t think we’ll be looking at a 55 AA programme from her this year.
Roschina and Kalmykova can be impressive but they are also very inconsistent.
It could happen, but it will be down to either the US making mistakes or being unable to field as strong a team as possible. But definitely, the possibility for Listunova to compete is a huge boost.

 

[Angelika]

Well well well - this has made me smile!

 

[Aizheng]

For me I think it’s a little premature to talk about Russia beating the USA. Listunova is prepared neither physically not mentally for this (my colleague’s words, not mine!). She’s also coming off the back of 2 major surgeries. Worlds is a while off, but I don’t think we’ll be looking at a 55 AA programme from her this year.
Roschina and Kalmykova can be impressive but they are also very inconsistent.
It could happen, but it will be down to either the US making mistakes or being unable to field as strong a team as possible. But definitely, the possibility for Listunova to compete is a huge boost.

But would you consider Russia locked for a medal (of any color)? I suspect euros will provide a glimpse.
It feels like the US is similarly shrouded in questionmarks this year, also given last year’s performance.

 

[MaryClare]

But would you consider Russia locked for a medal (of any color)? I suspect euros will provide a glimpse.
It feels like the US is similarly shrouded in questionmarks this year, also given last year’s performance.

Euros is a different kettle of fish. UEG won’t necessarily follow the same rules as WG. At the moment Listunova won’t be able to compete at euros. We should know by the end of this week. But world aquatics in the same situation, and the European body decided to delay their decision until after euros…

 

[RichardL]

I think the U.S. has shaken off last year. All the strongest gymnasts this year weren't at Worlds: Rivera, Pease, Bullock. Plus we'll possibly see Chiles, Carey, and Jones back in the mix, and maybe Blakely doing AA. I don't see room for Wong, Caylor, or Roberson.

 

[JDB]

Belarusians'' sportsmanship has been overall good. So I don't expect anything to change for them. I expect Russians' poor behavior at competitions to continue, maybe worsen. It's not how I wanted to see Russia return to international gymnastics.

 

[esta]

I think the U.S. has shaken off last year. All the strongest gymnasts this year weren't at Worlds: Rivera, Pease, Bullock. Plus we'll possibly see Chiles, Carey, and Jones back in the mix, and maybe Blakely doing AA. I don't see room for Wong, Caylor, or Roberson.

Are DiCello and McClain still going for elite?

 

[RichardL]

Are DiCello and McClain still going for elite?

Who knows? I think DiCello has shown some training videos...

 

[makam]

Has Jones shown any videos or been at camp?

I feel like Russia has a few up-and-coming talents but lots of their triumphs have been at domestic meets. Melnikova can't carry the whole team or infuse experience into n00bs by osmosis. (Though China be China and there are a lot of rebuilding teams right now so they definitely have a shot if they can mostly deliver) I'm not confident in GB, Italy, or France. Or Japan's 6 months early named team. And Romania, let's not go there.

 

[RichardL]

Not inspired with confidence re: Jones not coming to any camps. At the very least, Caylor was there during the Pan Ams selection meet trying and failing to catch a toe-on layout Tkatchev, which looked nice both mechanically and aesthetically.

 

[KathySantoni]

I think Russia is surely guaranteed a top three placement. China has not medaled since 2018 at a worlds and 2016 at Olympics, they have excellent gymnasts however can’t field a team without weaknesses and then of course there are the falls.