| 15 Russian swimmers swam to 15th place The results of the last European Short Course Swimming Championship placed the Russian team, which won one silver and five bronze medals, in 15th place in the team competition. First place was taken by Germany (8 gold, 7 silver and 5 bronze awards), second by Sweden (7, 4, 6) and third by Ukraine (4, 4, 0). Nevertheless, the President of the Russian Swimming Federation Gennady ALESHIN assessed the performance of our swimmers as satisfactory, because the Russian team in Antwerp did not include world swimming leaders Alexander Popov and Roman Sludnov.
— Gennady Petrovich, how would you comment on the Russians’ performance and which of the athletes disappointed the national team’s coaching staff?
— The last European Championship was very important for us, because in April we are preparing to host the World Championships in the 25-meter pool in Moscow. Before leaving for Antwerp, we planned to receive 4-6 medals of different denominations at the end of the tournament, and we accomplished this goal. True, they hoped that Tolya Polyakov, Irina Ufimtseva, Natasha Sutyagina, Oksana Verevka and Alyosha Filipets would rise to higher steps of the podium. And, in my opinion, Alexey only lost “gold” to the more experienced German Jörg Hoffman in the 1500-meter freestyle only purely tactically.
In total, the Russian team included 15 athletes, all of whom made it to the finals. Of these 15 people, only three disappointed us: Alexey Kovrigin and two Ekaterinas - Kibalo and Kormacheva. However, in any case, all athletes have acquired the experience they need, which will undoubtedly benefit them. Our two favorites did not take part in the championship - Roman Sludnov and Alexander Popov, who train and prepare for the competition according to an individual schedule. In addition, Sasha Popov, due to his almost two-meter height, does not like swimming in a 25-meter pool.
--Are you thinking of creating a group of swimmers who would specialize only in “short course”?
- There really are thoughts on this matter. Moreover, competitions in 25-meter pools are becoming very popular. And we have a certain category of athletes who gravitate towards such competitions and perform better in the winter season. Naturally, preparation costs will increase, but I think that this will bring results over time. True, I am worried about how things will go with the preparations. And I'm talking about all the swimmers of the national team. As you know, in order to show good results, you need to alternate training on flat terrain and in the mountains. As long as the USSR existed, this was the case. We went to Sukhumi, Tsakhadzori, Bakuriani. In recent years, they have found refuge in Dombay. But a few months ago we were informed that Chechen formations had been discovered in the areas adjacent to the base, and it was not recommended to go there. The November gathering did not take place for this reason. Now we need to reorient ourselves abroad, and for training there we have to pay in foreign currency.
— There are less than four months left until April, how are preparations for the World Cup going?
-- An organizing committee has been created, headed by Moscow Vice-Mayor Valery Shantsev. In the Olympic swimming pool, locker rooms, showers, rooms for athletes, for medical staff have already been renovated...
-- Has the partition that will divide the 50-meter Olympic Stadium in half already been erected?
— Not yet, but the original project exists. By the way, around this partition, in my opinion, unnecessary passions are being whipped up. They say that it will be uncomfortable for athletes, they may injure their legs, and so on. But similar practices exist all over the world. By the way, now in Antwerp the organizers have even thought of blocking off the pool with scaffolding four to six meters wide. The cost of such a design is approximately 12 thousand dollars. I note that at the top of this structure there were spectators.
-- When will the composition of the Russian team that will compete at the World Championships be determined?
-- On December 24, the Russian Cup will be held in Moscow in the new 25-meter swimming pool of the Medvedkovo sports complex, and based on its results, the Russian team will be formed, which will compete at the world championship. Olga ERMOLINA |
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