Ukraine withdraws from Paris World Challenge Cup over AIN athlete involvement — what does this mean for worlds?

Three weeks ago, I wrote here about the inclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes — under a neutral flag, represented by the letters AIN, but not without controversy related to their support of the war against Ukraine — at the Paris World Challenge Cup. We will also likely see Russian athletes at world championships in Jakarta next month. 

Now we know that Ukraine withdrew from the Paris meet in protest once it was confirmed that five Russian and Belarusian athletes, including the Russian world and Olympic champion Angelina Melnikova, would compete there. Melnikova, as I wrote, has never appeared to be politically neutral — she trains at a military-run facility and ran for political office in Russia in support of Vladimir Putin’s ruling party. 

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Ukraine’s withdrawal is not surprising under the circumstances. The president of the Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation, Iryna Deruigina, accused the FIG in August of “sportwashing,” defined by Human Rights Watch as the practice of using sports to obscure political (or social, or environmental) issues. Gymnastics is no stranger to sportswashing. If you don’t remember the original LA Olympics in 1984, which were boycotted by the Soviet Union and subsequently used as a way for the U.S. to put on a jingoistic show of sports might, those games were rife with it. Now it seems like the 2028 version may be history repeating itself. 

I hope the ongoing conflict will force the FIG to re-evaluate their criteria for including Russian and Belarusian athletes when the war is still very much in progress and geopolitical tensions remain high. Gymnastics has always been a sport somewhat defined by, and seemingly thriving on, geopolitical tension, though. So, there’s always the possibility that controversy is, if not welcome, then at least tolerated by the FIG. 

Other gym news:

College Gym News has a rundown of top freshman routines to watch for in all four events and the all-around. 

The Gymternet has the results of the Paris Challenge Cup. 

GymCastic this week also dissected the Paris Challenge Cup and the return of Melnikova and featured an interview with Laura Cappelle, a French arts critic and gym fan. 

Southern Connecticut State University has hired Alonna Kratzer and DeAvera Todd as assistant coaches to work with new head coach Corrinne Tarver (formerly of Fisk University). 

Ana Barbosu is stateside! She appeared in Stanford Gymnastics’ team photos.

Canadian gymnast Rose Woo announced her retirement from the sport.

Five at The IX: Jordan Chiles on Dancing With the Stars

Check out Chiles’ debut salsa routine! Get your voting fingers ready for next week.