The world misses Russian gymnasts, but their neutral status remains in place.

The head coach of the Russian national rhythmic gymnastics team, Irina Viner, shared her thoughts on the potential participation of Russian gymnasts in the international season of 2025. In an interview with TASS, she noted that she does not rule out the possibility of her athletes competing in a neutral status at tournaments organized under the auspices of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). Viner emphasized that Russian gymnasts may participate in competitions held in friendly countries such as Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, where they are eagerly awaited. "In April 2025, World Cup stages are scheduled in these countries, and I am sure that Baku and Tashkent have greatly missed our wonderful girls and their performances," she added.

According to the competition calendar, the stages of the World Cup in rhythmic gymnastics for 2025 are planned for the following dates: April 4-6 in Sofia, April 18-20 in Baku, April 25-27 in Tashkent, and July 18-20 in Milan. These tournaments represent an important opportunity for gymnasts to showcase their skills and preparation on the international stage, despite the challenging circumstances related to the political situation.

However, it is important to note that Russian gymnasts have faced serious obstacles on their path to the 2024 Olympics, which will take place in Paris. Due to the specifics of the qualifying process for these competitions, they were deprived of the opportunity to participate in the qualifying tournaments. In November 2023, the International Gymnastics Federation made the decision to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in a neutral status, which gave hope for the restoration of their participation in international competitions. However, to qualify for the Olympics, gymnasts needed to perform successfully at the European Championship in rhythmic gymnastics in the spring, which unfortunately they could not attend due to the continental federation's ban on the participation of Russian athletes in its tournaments.

Thus, the situation remains complex, and although Irina Viner expresses optimism regarding the future performances of her athletes, in practice, there is still much uncertainty. It is crucial for Russian gymnasts to return to the international arena, where they have traditionally held high positions and brought medals to their country. Viner is confident that the talent and determination of her protégés will help them overcome the current difficulties and regain recognition on the world sports stage.

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