Prigoda: “I won’t mind if they tell me to participate in the Olympics, they are important competitions”

Short course swimming world record holder Kirill Prigoda said he would not oppose participation in the Olympic Games if such a decision were made.

Prigoda won the 200m breaststroke at the Russian Short Course Championships in St. Petersburg on Wednesday. The swimmer did not receive neutral status to participate in international competitions. The International Olympic Committee has not yet made a decision regarding the possible participation of Russians in the Paris Olympic Games.

— Colleagues say Prigoda stopped swimming at the end of the 200 meters. Is it true?

— It was more of a calculation, we had to distance ourselves. “The goal was not to fly forward,” Prigoda told .

— Does your current world record warm you up?

– It’s hot, of course. This is a nice point of this season. But now, after a while, it’s a nice compliment.

— The world record will not be broken?

– Not this season. In the next one, maybe.

— World Friendship Games? BRICS games? Is this in the plans?

– Yes.

– And the Olympic Games?

– I won’t mind if they say so. I have always had a warm attitude towards the Olympic Games, they are important competitions.

— Have you ever wanted to apply for neutrality status?

— I didn’t think about desire. I participate in the process, I speak on behalf of Russia, taking into account its interests.

— Have you discussed his return to the World Cup with Ilya Shimanovich?

– Yes. He says that when he arrived at the competition, he was asked: “Ilya: what happened, why didn’t you swim for two years, what happened? People don’t pay attention to anything, they are completely focused on their work.

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