The Russian world champion reveals how foreign athletes in Indonesia view their Russian counterparts.
Melnikova said that the players help each other during training, stressing that there is no toxic behavior among the athletes. She added, "The atmosphere here is always friendly, and what you see on camera reflects the same reality in everyday life."
Melnikova's comments came after her success at the 2025 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Indonesia, where she won two gold medals and one silver, topping the all-around and vault competitions.
Earlier, the Russian champion confirmed that Russian athletes are not allowed to use foreign music in their performances, and that some domestic pieces are subject to restrictions, including Irina Allegrova's song "Little Lieutenant."
The World Championships were held in Jakarta from October 19 to 25, with Russian athletes participating under a neutral flag, following their gradual return to international competition following the 2022 suspension.
