Olympic champion Pankratov told how he changed the rules of swimming

Olympic 100 and 200 meter butterfly champion Denis Pankratov on told how the rules of world swimming changed because of him.

– Is it true that due to your ability to swim underwater for a long time, the International Swimming Federation has introduced restrictions?

I have some doubts about this story. But I had a conversation with a man who participated in this congress. And it was not a Russian, but a Frenchman. And he talked about the fact that the congress ran into a problem: total dominance by one athlete in a swimming style.

At that time I had all six world records and it seemed like it would be forever.

Recognized that my rascal is my asset. And we decided to limit it. But the official version: a long stay under water can lead to hypoxia and loss of consciousness or even death. For safety reasons, my dive was banned,” Pankratov said on .

On July 4, the athlete celebrates his birthday, on Tuesday he turned 49.

Denis Pankratov is the winner of two Olympic gold and one silver medals, world champion, winner of five gold medals at the European Championships, 10 times world record holder.