The scandal between Zakharova and Sartinsky: what is happening in men’s gymnastics? Gymnastics

On May 6, the Ukrainian sports society stirred up a statement of gymnasts from the national team of Ukraine, which decided to boycott the European Championship and accused the Vice president of the Gymnastics Federation of Ukraine Stella Zakharov of « Clare on those who really work ».

Champion I decided to understand what caused this decision and where this « war » began.

Step one: a beating that could not be

Let us be honest, the disputes between the two parties have come a long time ago, but they have never reached something specific. However, on February 4, 2025, the first serious step took place.

In conversation with me, Stella Zakharova accused the head coach of the national team Gennady Sartinsky of disciplinary violation. According to her, he beat another trainer on the basis of Koncha Zaspa at gymnasts. Which one, she didn’t say.

« The thing is the investigation and when it is over, we will give all the information. There happened: in the workplace in the gym in Koncha Zaspa Sartinsky in the presence of athletes beat another coach. He hit his foot behind. There are shows and explanatory notes of another representative, and I could not hit.

We invited a video that we were not provided with. We have officially invited a video to the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, which we also did not provide us. Therefore, as long as the investigation is underway, the Sartinsky is temporarily removed. It is an unhealthy situation where in the workplace the head coach, as a teacher, in the presence of children, athletes, causes bodily harm to another coach. In such cases, the coach writes a statement and goes. It is a violation of the Labor Code and the disciplinary commission, moreover, very serious, ”Zakharova said.

I asked Mr. Gennady « What happened on February 4? ». According to his version, the story with beating is a fiction to release him. There was only a verbal altercation. He also said that Vyacheslav Lavrukhin was the second trainer. It will appear in this story later.

Gennady Sartinsky

NOC of Ukraine

It is worth noting that I spoke with Zakharova before, so before talking to Sartinsky I already had her version. Gennady himself did not mention that he was accused of a foot. On the contrary, he said he could not beat Lavrukhin, because he had recently had surgery on his shoulder.

« It all started with the fact that Zakharova took Lavrukhin to the post of older coach. This is such a guy, himself in his mind. He went home, then came with a girl and without permission settled her with him without paying. He called Zakharov that he was allegedly offended.

It was with children, so I am guilty that I did not restrain and answered. He said I had somehow touched him. And I was just after surgery, I was operated on my shoulders, my hand could not work as it should, and I was 71 years old. And they invented it. He wrote a statement, I also wrote how everything was. The boys everyone signed up that nothing happened there. If this really happened, he should call the police, take beat and tell about it. But for some reason he did not do it. And they believe, and I don’t. So watch the video. They have a planned action to release me. This is not the first time. « 

Vyacheslav Lavrukhin received the best trainer from NOC, 2017

NOC of Ukraine

You can really find out how everything happened by watching the video. We made a request to the ministry to get it and we are currently waiting for the answer.

Step Two: Application for European Championship

The main thing begins with this story. On May 6, it became known that the Federation of Gymnastics of Ukraine decided not to send the head coach of the national team Gennady Sartinsky to the European Championship, where Ukrainian gymnasts should perform. Lavrukhin again appears here, because it was called the trainer’s place for the European Championship.

According to Zakharova, Sartinsky was removed due to the investigation of the above incident, so he had no right to go to the European Championship. Also in one of Ms. Stella’s interview reportedthat the Olympic champion Oleg Vernyaev could not get there because he did not pass the selection.

« Sartinsky, neglecting the rules of the selection system, again makes violations and enforces the European Championship of both itself and a gymnast that has not passed the selection system. »

She also added the selection results (the green noted the gymnasts that had passed it), where it is clear that Vernyaev had no right to receive a place in the application of the national team of Ukraine for the European Championship.

Results of selection for European Championship

Telegraf

Sartinsky also said that Ukraine could submit Vernyaev on the application, since the competition is allowed additional sixth place in the team. And not only he but the whole coaching council made in the competition.

In addition, he said, Vernyaev could not be selected due to health. At first he had a trauma, and at the Ukrainian Championship he performed the disease, so he could not show the desired result.

« Vernyaev began to work after the Olympic Games and was injured. He recovered, and then fell ill, pneumonia. He was put in hospital. He lay there and says that he had to speak at the Ukrainian Championship, because he was a selection. He came out, but he did not cure. fell.

And now I will say so. This year, European and World Championships are no qualifying competitions. Therefore, they give 5 places + sixth so that other athletes can be tested. Vernyaev is still better than those who have been selected. It just so happened that he could not go through. I took my responsibility and said that we were taking it the fifth. This decision was made by the Coaching Council, not only me. Everyone agreed. « 

Sartinsky also said that if Ukraine had not taken Vernayev, he would simply stop performing, and without him there would be no team. By order, Vernyaev stands in the team, and this position can be changed by the head coach.

Step Three: The Boycott of the European Championship

The decision not to send Sartinsky did not like the Ukrainian gymnasts very much, so on the same day they published a statement stating that they refused to participate in the European Championship without their head coach.

This statement was signed by Nazar Chepurny, Vladislav Griko, Oleg Vernyaev, Dmitry Praudko, Yegor Perepalkolkin, Stasis Butynas, Igor Dishuk, Ivan Rudy, Bogdan Suprun, Svyatoslav Swed.

« The Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation purposefully eliminates the head coach of the men’s national team of Ukraine – Sartini Gennady Ludwigovich – from participation in the European Championship. A person who holds all the preparation of the national team on his shoulders. This decision has no sports or logical justification. It destroys the male gymnastics of Ukraine from the inside.

We state openly: without Sartinsky – we, members of the national team of Ukraine, refuse to participate in the European Championship. Separately, our team will send a collective appeal to the International Federation of Sports Gymnastics (FIG) with a request to understand the situation and influence the actions of the leadership of the Ukrainian Federation of Gymnastics. We will not silently watch the Federation deal with those who really work. We are a team. And we will not allow it to break it from the inside,  » – the publication reads.

Zakharova in the comment of the champion declaredOleg Vernayev initiated the boycott.

« I do not think, but I know. And the athlete, which today is one of the culprits of the authority of the Ukrainian Federation of Gymnastics and Image of Ukraine, which has not passed the selection system, put in the team. Now this question will be viewed. We will not work in the lawlessness and bordering the Federation and Vernyaev. And forcing others to do it.

Sartinsky also said that he knew nothing about this decision of his subordinates and learned about him from Facebook. However, he is not surprised by Zakharov’s accusations towards Vernyaev. Gennady added that their conflict began with the desire of Oleg to lead the federation.

« I do not know about the boycott, I read about it on Facebook. I don’t think someone was initiator. I think all the guys understand that to go without a trainer who prepares them and knows each of them is difficult. This is sports psychology. Zakharova accused Vernayev? I didn’t even doubt.

The conflict began between them, because Vernyaev wanted to work with the Federation, because he saw that no one was engaged in it, there was no development. And he said he wanted to make his federation and go there. Everything is immediately panic in Deryugina and Zakharova, because they are afraid of competition. They understand that sooner or later it will take their place. « 

We will add that a complete interview with Gennady Sartinsky will soon be published on the champion, in which we, in addition to the topic of this text, also talked about Elijah Kovtun, improper judicial at the 2024 Olympic Games and problems of Ukrainian gymnastics.

Step Four: possible?

Now there is no feeling that everything will be over soon. When asked if it is possible that the parties would agree, Zakharova refused to answer. Sartinsky said briefly and clearly. He will agree to release if he is released in addition to him.

The wars of interests is interesting, but when they start to harm, it is worth stopping. Now Ukraine is seriously at risk of missing the European Championship and losing that Vernyaev that Sartinsky. These are especially painful losses for the team, especially after changing Elijah Kovtun’s citizenship. Therefore, I have only one question, whether the goals of individuals are worth such consequences for Ukrainian sports?