?Restart the Meet?: Heartbreak Echoes as America?s Beloved Rival Falls Flat at World Artistic Gymnastics Championships?2023

The 2023 World Gymnastics Championship has seen a host of spectacular performances. Be it Simone Biles delivering a perfect Yurchenko double pike or Kaylia Nemour’s graceful execution on the uneven bars, the 2023 Worlds has had the gymnastics enthusiasts on a hook through the course. However, in gymnastics, stumbles are no stranger.

While the gymnasts continue to be mindful and keep the damage to a minimum, it isn’t inescapable. The 2023 Worlds accepting of the fact, witnessed quite a few tumbles; including one by France’s leading gymnast, Melanie Johanna de Jesus dos Santos. The 23-year-old’s minor mistake on the uneven bars called for concerned reactions from the spectators online.

Melanie faces an unfortunate incident at the 2023 World Gymnastics Championship

Johanna de Jesus dos Santos Melanie is the rising star of the France Gymnastics team. The 23-year-old found herself at the all-around women’s finals after she finished 10th with 54.465 during qualifiers. Melanie, hoping for the best of results took to the Uneven Bars to perform Nabieva. The skill requires the performer to lay out vertically over the high bar, swing around, and then pass over the bar backward before grabbing it again.

Melanie started off with an agreeable start to the routine. But as she proceeded, she failed to get a grip on the bar after a release. The unforeseen distance between the gymnast and the bar led Melanie to a fall. The mistake hurt the gymnast’s score by a point which left her with a total of 12.500, placing 21st on the apparatus and 10th overall.

As Melanie fell face first, the event received a concerned response from the fans online. However, the incident did not just pull focus on Melanie. An interesting observation of the performances for the day also called for a varied response from fans.

Also Read: As Kaylia Nemour?s Contention Hangs by Thread, Gymnastics Community Rises in Support Against Bureaucracy

Fans express concern over Melanie’s fall

The surfaced video online showcased a brutal fall for the 23-year-old European all-around champion. Following the incident, a tweet from a concerned fan read, “NOOO MELANIE restart the meet.”? Another one of the agonized fans commented saying, “Of course we cannot have great days from Flavia and Melanie 2 competitions in a row,” following the gymnast’s remarkable lead at the team events.?

The fans further expressed their thoughts over the fall after Algerian gymnast Kaylia Nemour topped the list for the Uneven Bars. The gymnast interestingly switched her nationality from French to Algerian with little time left for the 2023 Worlds. Kaylia had suffered complications regarding her appearance in the France gymnastics team that drove the 16-year-old to her decision. Fans observing the connection between the two commented saying, “The French gymnastics federation should be so embarrassed losing a gymnast like Kaylia Nemour. All while allowing Melanie to train in America? Bozos.”

Melanie has been training in Texas under Simone Biles’s coach for quite a few years. The 23-year-old has set her eyes on the 2024 Paris Olympics and continues to tread towards it despite the challenges. Melanie’s 14.000 score on the floor routine, pushed Team France for a place on the podium.

Watch this story: USA Gymnastics Might Inadvertently Fail to Ensure the Safety of the Gymnastics Queen Simone Biles at Global Stage