Shishkin on World Aquatics’ lack of admissions decision: ‘For an athlete to train in ignorance is hard work’

Three-time Olympic synchronized swimming champion Alla Shishkina believes that the postponement of the decision on the admission of Russian athletes to international competitions affects the motivation of athletes.

On July 14, a meeting of the bureau of World Aquatics was held, but the conclusions of the commission on the possible return of Russians to competitions under the auspices of the international federation were not presented there. The Ukrainian side called for the abolition of the All-Russian Swimming Federation (VFTU), but World Aquatics rejected this proposal.

– The delay is sad. The longer they delay, the less time there is for preparation, for selection. I myself lived in a misunderstanding whether they would let us go to the Olympics or not – both in front of Rio, when they realized at the last moment that they were letting us in, and in front of Tokyo, when the Games been postponed.

The worst thing for an athlete is to live without understanding what the future holds for you, what you are preparing for. There must be motivation, to understand why he endures these trainings, difficulties, injuries, pains. When you live in constant ignorance, even forcing yourself to train is hard work. It would be quicker to start talking and not drag out the process.

What do you think of the fact that World Aquatics refused to disqualify the FSM?

“If we talk about what is happening in principle, this decision is a little plus, from which it becomes a little warmer in the soul, that they do not end Russian water sports,” Shishkina said. at MatchTV.