@melissaskavinska: Watching Lala Kramarenko’s concert performances, I keep wondering: why do we treat returning to competition as the only meaningful next step? To my eye, she looks strong, expressive and so assured in these performances. What draws me in is the mature, feminine quality of her movement—the way she carries a phrase, finishes a gesture and holds your attention. There’s something beautifully classical about it. It makes me appreciate a different side of rhythmic gymnastics. I’m watching how she interprets the music, how she moves through the choreography and what she makes me feel. I don’t find myself waiting for a score. That’s why I personally don’t feel she needs a competitive comeback to demonstrate her value. Returning would mean facing a younger generation and fighting for places again. My question is whether that pursuit would give her enough in return, particularly if it came at a cost to her health. We can’t assess her medical readiness from photographs or performances, and that decision belongs to her and her team. But I don’t think we should automatically assume that competing again is the better outcome. The younger gymnasts deserve their opportunities too. They’re developing their own identities, and I’m interested in watching that. At the same time, Lala brings experience and a quality of performance that I want to keep seeing—whether or not it leads to another title. Concerts are demanding work in their own right. They also offer a setting where an established gymnast can build a connection with an audience and continue developing as an artist. For me, these performances already have a purpose. They make people stop, watch and appreciate rhythmic gymnastics. Would you rather see Lala return to competition, or explore this performance side further? I’m Melisa, founder of Inside Artistic Sports. I explore the stories, careers and systems behind figure skating and rhythmic gymnastics. If you’d like to go deeper, explore my digital guides through the link in my bio or DM “INSIDER” 🤍

melissaskavinska

Open In TikTok:

Region: GB

Monday 19 October 2026 08:52:20 GMT