Freestyle

Fradkov's ministers swim faster than Olympic champions

After finishing the regular government meeting, members of Mikhail Fradkov’s cabinet demonstrated their swimming abilities. Yesterday they plied the waters of the Olympic swimming pool in Moscow at the opening of the Russian swimming championship. Before the start of the official competition, a “special swim” was announced. Government members versus Olympic champions. Among the first were the Minister of Agriculture, President of the Judo Federation Alexei Gordeev, Head of the Government Staff, Minister, President of the Swimming Federation Sergei Naryshkin, and Head of the Federal Cadastre Service Mikhail Mishustin. Legends of national swimming lined up nearby: four-time Olympic champion Alexander Popov, also four-time champion Vladimir Salnikov and three-time Olympic champion Evgeniy Sadovy.

The physical fitness of the swim participants could be assessed almost immediately. The open torsos spoke for themselves. Perhaps the Minister of Agriculture stood out here. Mr. Gordeev demonstrated muscles more suited to a bodybuilder than to the president of the Russian Judo Federation. The head of the specialized swimming federation, and part-time - the government apparatus, Sergei Naryshkin, was also in good shape. The rest of the swim participants, although no age-related deposits were observed, still did not have a model appearance.

Distance 50 meters freestyle. Whistle, start. Mr. Mishustin was in the water before others. The heated official was returned to the stand. And he was about to apologize for the false start, but the hitch turned out to be something else. The organizers forgot to warn about the special rules of the special swim. Government members were given a 15-second head start.

The ministers accepted the head start, but still continued to be nervous, like first-graders. With another whistle, they finally jumped into the water together. We swam ten meters or a little more. And then Mr. Gordeev, who started quite powerfully, suddenly turned back. Everyone signaled to him: “Swim forward!” But the rural minister persisted. The Olympic champions, who at that moment were just preparing to enter the water, were somewhat taken aback and froze on their stands. Naryshkin and Mishustin, meanwhile, clearly gained time by actively continuing to swim forward. Mr. Gordeev swam back with no less speed. The spirit of struggle nevertheless overpowered the gentlemanliness of the Olympic champions. They did not wait for the minister to return and somehow jumped discordantly after the sailing officials.

As a result, Minister Gordeev finished first from the end, and Minister Naryshkin finished first from the beginning. Olympic champions Popov and Salnikov, disoriented by the ministers' tactics, came second and third. The support group on the podium, consisting of senior White House officials, including Deputy Chief of Staff of the Government Mikhail Kopeikin and Director of the Department of Culture and Media Denis Molchanov, clapped and stomped their feet in celebration.

For the rest, friendship won. There was a celebration of the winner. Flowers and congratulations from current swimmers - members of the Russian national team. And a touching photo as a keepsake. Participants of the “special swim” in swimming trunks, terry blue robes, with Russian flags. And then confessions. “I did six training sessions in this pool. I liked it so much that I will continue to train here,” said Mr. Naryshkin. He encouraged his comrade who had gone astray, saying that Mr. Gordeev needed to count the time, cutting it in half. The Minister of Agriculture himself, who, judging by his biceps, expected more, did not seem embarrassed. He stated that “in our country the most popular sport in winter is skiing, and in summer – swimming.” And not judo at all.

Vera KUZNETSOVA