Russian gymnastics queen Angelina Melnikova was “vastly disillusioned” after being disadvantaged of gold within the ground train on the World Championships in Japan, the place the rating for her rival Mai Murakami was revised upwards.
Melnikova clinched an historic gold medal within the ladies’s all-around occasion earlier within the week on the Inventive Gymnastics World Championships in Kitakyushu, Japan, ending the decade-long dominance of American athletes.
READ MORE: Gymnastics sensation Angelina Melnikova seizes on Simone Biles & Suni Lee absences to assert world crown (VIDEO)
The 21-year-old star – representing the Russian Gymnastics Federation – appeared set so as to add one other title to her spectacular assortment when she sat prime of the leaderboard within the ground train occasion on Sunday with a rating of 14.000.
Angelina Melnikova Ground Occasion Finals 2021 Worlds pic.twitter.com/jSDbs3jALg
— Gymnastea (@gymnastea) October 24, 2021
Japanese rival Murakami appeared to have fallen brief when she posted 13.966, simply shy of Melnikova’s tally, with America’s Leanne Wong in bronze on 13.833 for her routine.
However the Japanese crew filed an attraction, feeling that the 25-year-old Murakami had been handled harshly with the scoring.
Murakami’s rating was subsequently bumped up by zero.100, shifting her to 14.066 and placing her forward of Melnikova.
Mai Murakami 2021 GOLD Medalist on ground ????????
BOY did I cry! She finishes her routine in tears!
She put an inquiry which led her to get the gold Medal! 14,0666 – 5.eight Problem – eight.266 execution pic.twitter.com/0zHj2QdXMn— Liviefromparis?♀️?♀️ (@ILoovEnglish) October 24, 2021
The #Kitakyushu2021 Ladies's Ground champion is Murakami Mai ??! She wins ? with a rating of 14.066, forward of All-Round champion Angelina Melnikova (RGF) in ? (14.000). Leanne Wong ?? takes ? (13.833)#GWC2021 #Gymnastics pic.twitter.com/csH4RmoNEl
— FIG (@gymnastics) October 24, 2021
In the meantime, Russian appeals concerning the judging for Melnikov have been rejected.
“I’m vastly disillusioned,” Melnikova informed TASS.
“I’ve by no means in my life had issues with the flip which wasn’t counted for me. We filed a protest, but it surely wasn’t accepted.”
Melnikova additionally took to Instagram, the place she instructed her first flip had not been credited.
“What they replied in response to the attraction, I received’t even say, as a result of it was terrible,” mentioned the star.
Talking to Russian outlet Match TV, Melnikova added: “It bothered them [the judges] that my leg was imagined to be at a 90-degree angle, however I supposedly had my leg too low. However I’ve by no means had that downside earlier than.
“Almost certainly, it was a second to seek out fault, as a result of for Mai Murakami it was her ultimate occasion, she’s ending her profession,” mentioned Melnikova of the Japanese star, who additionally clinched World Championship gold in the identical occasion in Montreal in 2017.
“This medal is vital for her, it’s nice that she’s ended her profession as a world champion.
“I’m comfortable for her, however I’ll say it’s unusual that they discovered fault with me, it’s the primary time I’ve ever confronted this.”
The senior coach of the Russian Inventive Gymnastics Workforce, Valentina Rodionenko, was likewise angered.
“The judges didn’t rely this component, and our coaches promptly filed a protest, which was rejected,” Rodionenko mentioned.
“It’s ineffective to show something now. They took her gold, what can I say, as a result of that unaccounted component was value zero.100 factors, which gave Melnikova the chance to complete first.
“I’ve no phrases in spite of everything this.”
The judging row isn’t the primary for Russian gymnastics in latest months.
Russian rhythmic gymnastics star Dina Averina misplaced on out gold within the all-round ultimate on the Olympic Video games in Tokyo in the summertime when she was pipped by rival Linoy Ashram regardless of the Israeli dropping her equipment throughout her ribbon routine.
READ MORE: ‘Like doping or bribery’: Judges should’ve picked Israeli gymnast as winner BEFORE ultimate, legendary Russian coach tells RT
The frustration will sting for Melnikova, however she no less than has the comfort of having fun with remarkably profitable season.
The star clinched an Olympic gold medal within the crew occasion in Tokyo in addition to two particular person bronzes, adopted by her all-round World Championship gold in Kitakyushu and one other bronze within the vault occasion, along with Sunday’s silver medal.
She additionally scooped 4 medals, together with gold within the uneven bars, on the European Championships in Basel again in April.
Angelina Melnikova has not left a significant occasion in 2021 with lower than three medals:
Europeans: ????
Olympics: ???
Worlds: ???An unimaginable season.
— Scott Bregman (@sbregman87) October 24, 2021