The first 10-15 years of the new millennium were simply dead for Russian shipping. Just look at the statistics of previous world championships: in 2019 our swimmers won 16 medals, in 2017 – 10, in 2015 (local tournament) – 4, in 2013 – 8, in 2011 – 4, in 2009 – 7, in 2007 – 5, in 2005 – 3. As you might guess, the situation at the Olympics was similar: in 2020 – 5, in 2016 – 4, in 2012 – 4, in 2008 – 4, in 2004 – 1.
As can be seen from the figures, there has been significant growth in the last five years. And while it’s currently not possible to compare results with rivals from other countries directly in the same group, we may well take a closer look at the numbers. And they say that at many distances Russian athletes would be confident participants in the finals, and the team leaders would fight for victories and medals.
Kliment Kolesnikov at the Russian Cup in 100 m backstroke showed a result with which he would have defeated all rivals in Fukuoka, and in 50 m overall he updated the world record. In April, at the Russian Championships, Evgenia Chikunova updated the best world achievement at a distance of 200 m breaststroke, falling almost one and a half seconds from the previous result. “What’s left? Hide in a corner and cry? I position myself as a strong athlete, I try to do my best here and in those conditions. Everything that happens next, I hope, depends on our results. Proving to everyone that we can swim even now,” said Clement. True, not all athletes have such powerful motivation as Kolesnikov and Chikunova.
Photo source: RIA Novosti
Although you really don’t have to be ashamed. This season, Russian swimmers have two best results of the season in the world (Chikunova and Oleg Kostin), four seconds more, and in the top 10 overall 16. It is easy to guess that at the World Championships they would be, if not at the first roles, then among the leaders. But why do the rest of the teams need competitors? Americans are experiencing a generational change, as there aren’t enough really big stars. Katie Ledecky immediately comes to mind, and for men after Caleb Dressel’s strange absence, if not scorched earth, then definitely empty. Again, by high “stars and stripes” standards.
Photo source: RIA Novosti
The only Russian woman to have made it to the world championship is Anastasia Kirpichnikova, who now plays for France. In a distance of 1500 m freestyle, she turned out to be very close to the prize place, but in the end she only placed fourth, and in 800 m she stopped one step away from reaching the final. It turns out that she Nastya almost reached the medals, although in the Russian team it is difficult to say that she stood out against the background of other collections. And this only speaks of the high average level of our team, which now has to cook in its own juice. No matter how it led to another decline in our swimming.
But for foreigners, of course, it’s great: they pretend to observe moral guidelines that only they understand, kicked out serious competitors from major tournaments, and now rejoice at their own successes. Nobody is going to look down on the Australians, the Chinese or even the Americans at the World Cup, but isn’t it better when there is an opportunity to compete with the best of the best, and not selectively, as is happening now?
Photo source: RIA Novosti
The main problem is that there is no way out of the current situation. Swimming is a sport in which an athlete competes not so much with an opponent as with time. But if earlier it was just a stopwatch race, now it is also time in a global sense, since no one will now say when Russian swimmers will be able to fully return to the world sports family.
