The Netherlands denies visas to three Russian gymnasts, preventing them from competing at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam, which begin on Saturday. Russian officials say the group includes Angelina Melnikova, the defending women’s all-around world champion, along with Viktoria Listunova, both former Olympic champions, and another Russian gymnast.
The BBC and other outlets report that the gymnasts are unable to attend the championships due to the visa refusals. Russia’s Gymnastics Federation expresses anger at the Netherlands over the decision, with some coverage noting the event’s role as a team qualifying competition for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. While the reports focus on the athletes affected and the timing ahead of the tournament, they do not agree on additional reasons beyond the Netherlands’ denial of entry visas.
