In Budapest, the Ukrainian set a new national record
Ukrainian swimmer Mikhail Romanchuk commented on taking the bronze medal at the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest.
In the final of the 800-meter freestyle, the 25-year-old Ukrainian took third place with a new national record.
“Everyone saw that I won the qualification by five hundredths, that is, this is an almost identical result to what was in the final – we had a difference of three tenths. All these results are of a very high level. To say that I gave my best in qualifying sounds stupid. Still, I am a world-class athlete, and telling me that in qualifying you need to ‘hold yourself’ … Get up and do it yourself, ”explained Romanchuk.
“This is the hardest medal in my career, both mentally and physically. Everything is extremely difficult, even from the moment of departure from Ukraine. You constantly think about her, read the news, constantly feel anxiety. Then you gradually adapt, you understand that you need to continue to prepare. The pool is still my front line, and I have to show the whole world who the Ukrainians are. This spectrum of emotions boils inside like a volcano.”
“Of course, all journalists and athletes ask about Ukraine and my stay in Germany. I constantly say that people around the world are beginning to forget that there is a war going on in Ukraine. It has not ended, it continues. We should not forget about this, we need help. After all, we are protecting not only ourselves and our home, but the whole of Europe and the world. We will fight to the end.”
For Romanchuk, the medal in Budapest was the third at the world championships in long water. At the World Championships in Gwangju (2019) and Budapest (2017), the Ukrainian won silver medals.
At the competitions in Hungary, the Ukrainian team takes sixth place in the medal standings with four awards. The World Cup will last until July 3.
Source: Sportarena
