STUTTGART, Germany -- Angelina Melnikova made the best out of a hairy situation.

The Russian has the top qualifying score on floor exercise so far at the world gymnastics championships despite her hair coming loose from her bun during a tumbling pass. Her long braid swished and swayed for the rest of the routine, occasionally hitting her in the face.

“When I was coming up to floor, I checked my bun and thought about whether I should re-do it, but I decided not to,” Melnikova said. “The rest of the floor routine, I was just thinking about my hair, that it didn't get in my eye or anything because I know how much it can bother you.”

Like most gymnasts, Melnikova usually wears her hair up during competitions. It’s never come loose before, but Melnikova said she’s long feared it could – which is why she braids her hair before putting it up.

“If it was in training, I would have stopped and changed it,” she said. “But here I couldn't stop, so I was just thinking about it. I hoped it wouldn't get in my eye.”

At least the bright blue scrunchie that was wrapped around the base of the bun stayed put. Had it come off, Melnikova could have slipped on it. Instead, she waited until her score -- a 14.1 -- posted, then re-did her hair.

Melnikova is second in the all-around standings, though Simone Biles and the Americans haven’t competed yet.