Viktoriya Listunova’s Inclusion in Russian Squad Amid Restrictions
Viktoriya Listunova has been named in Russia’s European Championships Training squad, despite an active restriction that prevents her from participating. The Russian gymnast is one of only two women, along with Nadia Comăneci, to win a Senior European all-around title in the first year of eligibility.
According to Gymnovosti, the Russian Gymnastics Federation (RGF) has included Listunova in the gymnastics training group for the European Championships. The document clarifies that she does not yet have a neutral status.
Earlier this year, Listunova and the RGF filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). This came after her application for the Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) status was rejected by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).
While Listunova has been included in the training squad, FIG’s ruling makes her ineligible for international competition. The decision arrived after she was spotted at the 2022 Victory Day celebration in Russia, which violates FIG’s neutrality criteria.
The decision to disapprove of Listunova’s status has sparked confusion, as teammate Angelina Melnikova was granted neutral status and permission to compete. As reported by Gymternet, Melnikova’s ties with military-funded sports clubs, participation in local politics, and controversial views on social media also do not comply with the neutrality criteria.
Returning from her hiatus, Melnikova notably bagged gold at the 2025 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Indonesia — her second World title. It remains to be seen if Listunova can follow the same trajectory. With the World Gymnastics setting the eligibility criteria for neutral status, her competitive hopes depend on CAS’s interpretation of the rules.
How Listunova Helped Russia Secure Olympic Gold
At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, the Russian Olympic Committee secured gold with a team score of 169.528. The team beat the USA’s total of 166.528, and a then 16-year-old Listunova played a crucial role in the victory.
She competed on uneven bars, earning a high score of 14.900, which was the highest in the event for her team. Listunova continued her form on the floor, finishing with 14.166. The combined scores gave the Russian roster a two-point lead over the USA.
In the third rotation, veteran athletes Vladislava Urazova and Angelina Melnikova scored 12.633 and 12.566, respectively — a low tally. Listunova came in clutch and scored 14.333, the highest on the balance beam for any athlete on her team.
She outperformed Team USA’s Sunisa Lee and Grace McCallum and secured a 0.800 lead buffer before the final event. Listunova’s 43.399 points proved crucial in Russia’s bid for gold and brought Team USA its first loss in a decade.
This also marked the first time the Russian-led women’s gymnastics team finished top of the podium.
