World Cup winner Belyaev liked the organization of the Czech Republic, but misses international competitions

Open Water Swimming World Cup Medalist Kirill Belyaev told that he misses international competitions.

Russian swimmers have been suspended from competitions under the auspices of World Aquatics amid the situation in Ukraine. Last week, Rostov-on-Don hosted the Russian open water swimming championship, in which Belyaev won the silver medal at a distance of 10 km and the bronze medalist at a distance of 5 km . Both races were won by Alexander Stepanov.

— I liked the new location in Rostov-on-Don, it’s always interesting. Everything was crowded, all together, we did not scatter, so to speak, along the beach. Bikers won the prizes – also interesting. Everything was modern. The hotel was fine, everything was to a fairly high standard.

– What do you have next for the competition?

– We have the same system of clusters for the starts, as in the poule. Ahead of us is the departure from Penza – the Russian Cup. There will be the Russian Cup in Sukko. Now we swim not only five kilometers, as before, but also 10 kilometers. There has never been such a thing that in such a short time three “fives” and three “tens” have sailed. Now there are still amateur starts. For example, on August 5, Hydro Race will be held in Rybinsk on the largest artificial reservoir in Europe. We are already in our third year. It’s an amateur competition, you can come as a family, with children. So I invite everyone.

– Kirill Abrosimov said that in cold weather it is not easy without starts.

– I have not found our best times in open water, when there were world and Olympic champions. But I remember how I went to the World Cup when I was 16, it was an indescribable experience. Burned, wanted to start. Each international departure gave additional motivation. Now in winter there are not enough starts to check your form. In addition, at international departures, the speed is higher. Excitement, adrenaline. I also miss international competitions.

In winter, we swim in the pool, we train through the Russian Championship, through regional competitions. But it’s one thing to swim 1500 m, another thing 10 km.

– You train with Sasha Stepanov, don’t you?

– Yes, my mother.

– Do you swim for yourself or is there a team tactic?

— Somehow we tried team tactics, but now both have a high level of open water swimming, so everyone swims for themselves, we try not to get in each other’s way remotely, and therefore, we each focus on ourselves.

– Sasha isn’t as tough as you in open water, but he just turned on this season!

“He’s really fit. If we take training a year ago and now in open water, then he’s improved a lot. This one was visible. I understood that if we go to the finish line together , as it was in the 10 km, he would win the finish line, his finish is very fast and, one could say, phenomenal.

– In general, are you satisfied with the competition – with the results, with the competition?

– I completed the minimum task, earned medals. But of course, I would like to win. I have won the world and European championships, but I haven’t won the Russian championship yet.

– Another 16 km was cancelled. Could there be a greater chance?

This year, I think so. But it’s okay, – said Belyaev “”.