Swimmer Fesikova’s coach after the athlete announced her retirement: “She and I grew up together, we worked together for 18 years”

Coach of an Olympic swimming medalist Anastasia Fesikova Natalya Kozlova said that she “grew up together” with this athlete for 18 years of collaboration.

On Tuesday, Fesikova, 33, announced her retirement.

“You didn’t persuade her to stay?”

– 33 years old, she should already be a mother. I went to the Masters and set a European record. If she and Sergei (Freskov, her husband) wish, they will compete in this category.

“You have a long and difficult journey together.” You have restarted this process several times!

“We grew up together and walked together. » We thought we would finish it or not after Rio. We didn’t swim for a month and decided to start again. She then won another European Championship and became a World Championship medalist. After the second child, this was no longer necessary. Although Nastya swims, she is talented.

— Nastya told me how she came to your first meeting and you didn’t let me eat bread. Like in another life?

– It’s true, like in a past life. We coaches are also growing. Now I work differently with girls. I don’t forbid it, I explain that it makes you gain weight and that you have to eat well.

We will see her. This year marks the 18th anniversary of our collaboration. She congratulated me on reaching the age of cooperation. Note. Nastya left, Masha Kameneva came. Time is passing,” Kozlova told .