Angelina Melnikova wins all-around title at 2021 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships

Angelina Melnikova continued her golden 2021 season, soaring to victory in the women's all-around final on Thursday (21 October) at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Kitakyushu, Japan.

The win is the first for an athlete from the Russian Gymnastics Federation since Aliya Mustafina took gold in 2010 and ends a streak of seven wins in-a-row for Team USA after Jordyn Wieber (2011), Simone Biles (2013-15, 18-19) and Morgan Hurd (2017) dominated the event.

"I feel like I made history," Melnikova said of ending the American stranglehold on the event.

She earned a 56.632 total in the all-around, holding off American Leanne Wong (56.340). Kayla DiCello, also of the United States, (54.566) took the bronze medal.

"I'm so happy. I did all that I wanted. I don't know what to say because I'm so happy and I'm so exhausted right now," said Melnikova afterward. "I will enjoy competition because my important goal is done now."

The 21-year-old, who helped lead the ROC to team gold at the Tokyo 2020, said earlier in the week she knew the absence of Biles, the reigning champion, and Suni Lee, the 2020 Olympic gold medallist, presented an opportunity.

"Yes, it’s a good chance and I’ll try to use it 100%," said Melnikova after the qualifying round.

A quick turnaround

With the Olympic Games having concluded just over two months ago, Melnikova's preparation time for the event has been limited as she's basked in the success that comes with an Olympic gold medal.

Her results today, she said, surprised her given the limited training time she's enjoyed since Tokyo.

"I feel very tired. I feel exhausted. I had only one month to prepare for this competition. And I thought I can't do my old routines," Melnikova admitted. "And that's why I was today... I was really surprised about my routines. I did all I wanted."

On Thursday, she got her competition underway with a solid double-twisting Yurchenko for a 14.466. In the second rotation, Melnikova broke a connection between transition elements that had given her trouble in official training and the qualifying round.

The decision paid off as she improved on her qualifying score to post a 14.533.

Melnikova earned a 13.800 on the balance beam and went to the floor exercise with a 0.492 lead of Wong.

Having finished first and second in the preliminary round, Melnikova was last to go in the final rotation with Wong the penultimate performer. The American delivered a stunning routine to put the pressure on.

But Melnikova, a veteran of two Olympic Games and three previous worlds, did not let up. She scored a 13.833 to take the gold medal.

"It was a difficult moment for me, and I was really nervous a little bit because I didn't do my floor very well, and I was a little bit worried about my score," said Melnikova of the wait for the final standings. "But finally, it's good."

New memories for Wong

For Wong, who was a replacement athlete for Team USA at Tokyo 2020, the return to Japan has given her a chance to put disappointment behind her. The 18-year-old was forced to spend 10 days in isolation after having been identified as a close contact to teammate Kara Eaker, who tested positive for COVID-19.

After that, she says, she was determined to compete at these worlds.

"Definitely after the experience in Tokyo last time, I knew I wanted to come to the World Championships and get to compete on the world stage," said Wong.

Wong earned a 14.341 on the vault in the opening rotation. She scored 14.066 and 13.900, respectively, on the uneven bars and balance beam.

In the final rotation, Wong was spectacular, tumbling a clean double-double to open her floor routine. She, then, executed a whip back to triple full, two-and-a-half to front full and a double pike to earn a 14.033.

"The silver medal feels really amazing after the first trip in Japan," Wong said, "So, just coming here and getting to compete was so much fun and I was just so glad I won a medal."