World Championship starts in Japan: record holders Chikunova and Kolesnikov will not perform

The World Aquatics Championship starts on July 14th. The first medals will be played in synchronized swimming, diving and open water swimming, the second week of the championship will be given to swimming, high diving and water polo. Russia skips the tournament in Japan. And on Friday, the World Aquatics Bureau will hold a regular meeting.

The International Aquatics Federation extended the suspension of our athletes from participating in their events back in April. At the same time, it became clear that the World Cup was passing by the Russian leaders.

During this time, practically nothing has changed on the international agenda for our athletes. There was only conflicting information about the invitation of Russia and Belarus to the Asian Games. But – without much specifics. True, the main point was indicated: the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) announced that it would allow Russian athletes to participate in the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, if the IOC allowed them to participate in the Summer Olympics in Paris in 2024. And this meant that a new expectation was ahead. However, all the same requirements were voiced: neutral status, individual admission, selection of commissions of international federations, based on IOC criteria …

President of the All-Russian Swimming Federation Vladimir Salnikov, for example, believes that it would be interesting to perform in Asia. But the question rests on the specific conditions that will be offered to the athletes.

Stanislav Druzhinin, who heads the diving federation, says that he would like to compete at the Games in Asia, but under the conditions put forward, it is problematic.

The President of the Federation of Synchronized Swimming Olga Brusnikina is of the same opinion: if the admission will be held according to the IOC criteria, then, for example, it is not yet clear whether the group will be able to perform? Will it be equated with the team events that the IOC cut off for Russia and Belarus from international competitions.

Our athletes miss the World Championship. But life goes on, internal tournaments go on as usual. And at these tournaments there is something to envy, for example, to the leading foreign swimmers. The International Swimming Federation has just recognized the world records of Russian swimmers Yevgenia Chikunova and Kliment Kolesnikov, which they showed at domestic competitions.

Chikunova’s record, one might say, is fresh: dated April 21. Evgenia in the final swim at the Russian Championship showed a fantastic result of 2 minutes 17.55 seconds in the 200 m breaststroke. The previous record belonged to Tatiana Schunmaker from South Africa – 2 minutes 18.95 seconds, feel the difference.

And Kliment Kolesnikov set his record at the Russian Short Course Championship in November. He swam the distance of 50 m on his back in 22.11 seconds, crossing out the achievement of Florent Manaud – 22.22 seconds.

Now our strongest swimmers are preparing for the Russian Cup final, which starts in Kazan on July 25th. There will be world record holders, and Evgeny Rylov, Martin Malyutin, Ivan Girev, Mikhail Dovgalyuk, Kirill Prigoda, Vladislav Grinev, Maria Kameneva, Svetlana Chimrova…

And after the Cup of Russia, Kemerovo will already meet the Champions Cup. According to the head coach of the Russian national team Sergey Chepik, at the peak of the season, athletes will have the opportunity to show results and earn prize money. “Keeping the result in two competitions in a row is what you need to be able to do.”

As in general – keep the result. As illustrations, let us recall a few statements that, without exaggeration, can be called quotes of the year.

Two-time medalist of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, world record holder, six-time world short course champion, six-time European champion Kliment Kolesnikov: “The fuse itself and the desire to defeat oneself have not gone away. The desire to set records and swim at the best time is higher than laziness.”

Kirill Prigoda, multiple winner of the world championships, world and European short course champion: “What distinguishes a real professional from a non-professional is that he does not care what status the competition has and what titles are played. I do not experience any abyss or the feeling that I have no opportunity. I am always happy and I use my chance and moment.”

Yulia Timoshinina, World Championship medalist, multiple European diving champion: “I have finally reached a state where you get it from the jump itself, and not from the scores that are on the scoreboard.”

Representatives of our water sports will be able to participate online in the Congress of the International Aquatics Federation, which will be held in Fukuoka. What will World Aquatics decide in Japan?