Swimmer Yulia Efimova: “I would like to participate in the Olympics. I’m already listening! »

Triple Olympic medalist in swimming Yulia Efimova spoke about her desire to perform at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

On Tuesday, Efimova finished third with a time of 29.95 seconds in the 50-meter breaststroke at the Russian Short Course Swimming Championships in St. Petersburg. Evgenia Chikunova won gold at this distance (29.54). Efimova, 31, is participating in the Russian Championship for the first time in two years and returned to competitive training at the end of October.

— Were you very nervous before this final?

– You know, yes. There have been experiences. But at the same time, I will say this: if athletes are suffering from burnout, then they need to take a break. It really helps. Because for the first time in a long time, I felt really nervous. At the same time, I get up in the morning and I’m in a good mood. I sing songs and I dance. It’s a pre-competition party feeling, and during the day I found myself thinking that I hadn’t been in such a good mood for a long time before the start. Although, in principle, I am rarely in a bad mood. But there, I was at my peak!

— Are you satisfied with your result?

— I would like to do like in the semi-final (29.86). But now, as we begin, we’re going to roll back the results.

— What are your impressions of this Russian championship?

— I like everything so far. I have a good audience. I feel like they were waiting for me here! I have just arrived and the holidays are even more fulfilling! It’s true, I don’t know what it would have been like without me. But I see that the public and the correspondents really miss me. I like it, it’s flattering. But at the same time it is very difficult to swim quickly after a break.

– But are you bored?

– Yes of course! It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this much thrill while swimming. That’s why I’m not even upset that it didn’t work today. I will also cover the ending, why and how. Most likely, my favorite start was filled. However, I’m always happy to be back in a good mood. Everyone supports me!

— Don’t you feel like a rock star here?

-Punk Star (Laughs) ? There is such a thing. Well, not rock, but increased attention.

— Do you have any plans for next year?

— For now, I will start preparing for the Russian Long Course Championships. This will be the main starting point. And I hope to start somewhere at certain intervals.

— Are you thinking about the Olympic Games?

– I would like. I’m already listening! If I come back and after two months of training I can win prizes at the Russian Championships – and we have the strongest breaststroke swimmers in the world, mind you – then this is already a world level .

—How did your father react to his return? Was he excited about your decision?

— We are both very tired in 2021. This was obvious to me, to him and even to the spirit with which we trained and went to the competition. And after a two-year break, at the end, my father began to push me to think: “Maybe you will play?” There is this kind of fight. Maybe you will come?

Although he does not admit it and says that it was only my personal initiative, and that he himself wants grandchildren and does not support this, but no, I see that he misses me too. And we both rested. And now we are going into battle with new strength and emotions, ”reports the correspondent of , according to Efimova’s words.

The Russian Championship takes place in Saint Petersburg from November 20 to 25. Watch live broadcasts of the final series on the channel, as well as on the matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru sites.