Olympic champion Angelina Melnikova will lead the Russian women’s artistic gymnastics team at the European Championships in Zagreb following Croatia’s last-minute reversal of her visa ban, amidst a situation marked by an administrative dispute and neutrality protocols. Olympic and world champion Angelina Melnikova will compete under a neutral flag at the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Zagreb. Photo: Olympics.comOlympic champion Angelina Melnikova will lead the Russian women’s artistic gymnastics team at the European Championships—taking place in Zagreb from August 13 to 16—after Croatian authorities granted a visa at the last minute. Melnikova had already demonstrated her competitive caliber in 2025, after World Gymnastics granted her neutral status in March. In Zagreb, the gymnast will compete under the strict neutrality protocol established by the Croatian government and endorsed by European Gymnastics: no national anthem, flag, or national colors.