Netherlands denies visas to Russian gymnasts for world championships

The Netherlands has refused entry visas to three of Russia’s strongest gymnasts — Angelina Melnikova, Viktoria Listunova and Anna Kalmykova — and they will not be able to compete at the world championships. The athletes learned of the Dutch authorities’ decision on Tuesday.

According to the Russian Gymnastics Federation, the reason given was that “one or more Schengen states consider these athletes a threat to their international relations.” The situation is all the more serious because the tournament serves as a qualifying stage for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Reaction from the athletes and the federation

“Unfair,” Melnikova wrote on social media. In her words, it looks like a decision in the spirit of “let them compete, but without her, without her and without her.” The federation called what happened direct discrimination and a gross violation of the principle of equal conditions in Olympic qualification, and said it would seek to have the championships stripped of their status as an Olympic qualifier.

Melnikova is the third most decorated gymnast in Russian history and the reigning world and European all-around champion. In 2021 she led the Russian team to Olympic gold, and Listunova was part of that team. Kalmykova is the reigning Russian all-around champion and a European championships silver medallist, finishing behind only Melnikova. Melnikova and Listunova, however, have publicly supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and Melnikova had planned to run for the United Russia party but changed her mind because of her competition preparations.

Who else is waiting for a decision

The three refusals may not be the end of it: decisions are still pending for five more athletes. Four Russian gymnasts — one woman and three men — have already received permission, as has the entire Belarusian team. Requests for comment about the refusals went unanswered by two Dutch ministries and the International Gymnastics Federation.

Participation of Russian athletes is not automatically guaranteed after the restrictions were lifted: countries hosting international tournaments have the right to set their own visa policy. The Russian team also had difficulties ahead of the European Championships in Zagreb, where visas were initially refused as well, but in the end Melnikova and her teammates were able to compete under a neutral flag.

Around Prague, based on reporting by sport.cz