‘Champion of Terror’ – Putin-Praised Gymnast Competes in Germany, Igniting Backlash

Angelina Melnikova, Russia’s 2020 Olympic all-around champion and a gymnast designated by Ukraine as a “champion of terror,” has debuted with TSV Tittmoning-Chemnitz in Germany’s gymnastics Bundesliga, a move that has stirred controversy and debate.

At a German Gymnastics League competition in Esslingen, on Saturday, Nov. 15, she posted the highest score on all four apparatuses, earning 55.40 points and helping her team secure first place with 205.050.

Although police were alerted to the possibility of protests over her appearance, no demonstrations took place. Officers remained stationed outside the venue as a precaution.

The 25-year-old’s Melnikova signing has caused a backlash.

Melnikova has been accused of supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin, participating in United Russia’s local primaries, and publicly displaying symbols associated with the invasion of Ukraine – accusations that placed her on Ukraine’s “champions of terror” list compiled by Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR).

Despite this, Chemnitz’s coaching staff insisted the decision to recruit her was purely athletic.

“There were only sporting reasons,” coach Tatjana Bachmayer told DW, saying the club had no intention of making “a political statement.”

She acknowledged the situation could be seen as problematic but said the team valued “solidarity in sport and international understanding.”

“Regarding the political aspect,” Bachmayer said, “the athletes are still very young and focused solely on gymnastics. We don’t think about politics and see the athletes only as people.”

German officials have taken a more cautious line.

A government spokesperson said “there must be no instrumentalization of sport for Russian politics,” adding that they were “confident this is not the case here.”

Melnikova was cleared to compete internationally as a “neutral athlete” by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) in March after three years of being restricted to Russian domestic competitions.

The FIG decision has been sharply criticized by Ukraine, which sent a letter to the FIG and IOC in April listing examples of what it says are violations of neutrality rules.

According to HUR data, Melnikova is a member of the Central Sports Club of the Russian Army (CSKA), which is subordinate to Russia’s Ministry of Defense.

CSKA, in turn, regularly supports the military and veterans of the “SVO” – the term Russia uses to describe its full-scale invasion of Ukraine – by purchasing and delivering special equipment, first-person-view (FPV) drones, generators, and other supplies to the front.

“Thus, CSKA athletes at international competitions actually represent the armed forces of the aggressor state,” the HUR states.

In 2021, she received two state awards: the Order of Friendship, personally presented by Putin for her Olympic achievements, and the medal “For Strengthening the Combat Commonwealth,” awarded by then-Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

As per the HUR report, Melnikova has publicly supported Russia’s war against Ukraine on her Instagram account, posting pro-war content and using Z-symbolism.

In 2023, she took part in a fundraiser for the daughter of a fallen Russian soldier, and in January 2025, she held a “charity training session” for children from the families of “SVO” participants.

In May 2025, she published a photo featuring a St. George’s ribbon shaped like the letter Z, further promoting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a war that’s included the systemic mass extermination of civilians.

In April 2025, Melnikova won the primaries of Russia’s ruling United Russia party for a seat in the Voronezh City Duma. However, in July she withdrew her candidacy, saying she could not combine an election campaign with preparing for international competitions.

Her return to the international stage this season was solid: she won two golds and a silver at the World Championships in Jakarta, prompting personal praise from Putin.

“Your triumphant performance in the individual all-around is a wonderful gift to your fans, coaches and mentors,” he wrote in a congratulatory message.

For Chemnitz, signing the reigning world champion is a coup – and a strategic move as they attempt to break rival MTV Stuttgart’s 13-year Bundesliga dominance.

But the Deutsche Turnliga (DTL), which oversees the league, appears inconsistent.

Speaking to Ukraine’s Glavcom outlet, DTL President Michael Götz defended the decision by saying the organization follows FIG criteria and “does not have the mandate to evaluate political actions.”

Yet an article published on the DTL website on Oct. 24 took a different stance, stating that Melnikova’s participation “contradicts the world federation’s own neutrality criteria.”

During team introductions in Esslingen, Mayor Matthias Klopfer addressed the crowd of around 1,000 fans, openly criticizing Chemnitz’s choice to field Melnikova.

“I hope that after the DTL final in Heidelberg, the team from Chemnitz will reconsider their decision to nominate the reigning world champion,” he said.

When asked by SWR outlet to clarify his remarks, Klopfer said: “She actively supports Putin and the war regime. I say this decision was wrong.”

Esslingen has a partner city in Ukraine, Kamianets-Podilskyi. “We recently sent a bus there to support war victims and children traumatized by the war.” Putin is a war criminal, Klopfer said, “and therefore any support for him is inexcusable – not even in top-level sports.”

Mayor added that he was stunned when he heard about the decision made in Chemnitz.

Melnikova, for her part, kept her comments strictly to sport.

“I’m happy to be here. It’s my first time competing in the Bundesliga,” she said, adding that she likes Germany and remembers the 2019 Stuttgart World Championships fondly.

When asked if she considers herself a neutral athlete, she responded: “No comment.”

Her teammate Karina Schönmaier said only that “it’s cool that she’s with us,” praising Melnikova’s experience and saying the team remains focused on competition.

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