Nyora kuenderera mberi kweiyi ndima - Muna 2012, Merkulova akahwina mukombe weTashkent World Cup All-around zita uye magumo emidziyo yega yega mubhora, hoop uye makirabhu. Achikwikwidzana newaanotamba naye Evgenia Kanaeva pa2012 European Championships
, panzvimbo yaDaria Kondakova naDaria Dmitrieva avo vakakuvadzwa, vakatora menduru yesirivha yose. PaGrand Prix Vorarlberg muAustria muna Chikunguru 2012, Merkulova akahwina menduru yebronze mune zvese-kutenderera kumashure kwaKanaeva naDmitrieva pamwe nesirivheri mumakwikwi ekupedzisira. PaWorld Cup series muMinsk, akapedza ari wechina mune zvese-kumashure kwaLiubov Charkashyna uye akahwina sirivheri mumakirabhu ekupedzisira. Akanga zita sezvo nominall wechipiri kupinda kweRussia kuti munhu wose-kumativi panguva 2012 Summer yeOlympic muLondon, pamwe Kanaeva, zvisinei, Dmitrieva akamutsiva muRussia yokupedzisira zvinyorwa musi August 2, 2012, nokuda Merkulova rutsoka kukuvara.