Kameneva – about the FSM’s desire to defend it before the CAS: “The European record is dear to me”

Short course world champion Maria Kameneva admitted in conversation with that she regrets the lack of official status for her European record.

Kameneva repeated the European short course 50m backstroke record in 2022. Russian athletes were suspended from competitions held under the auspices of European Aquatics. The European Federation also does not record the European records of Russians, while World Aquatics confirms the world records of Russian swimmers. President of the All-Russian Swimming Federation (RSF) Vladimir Salnikov said the FSM is ready to challenge the lack of official status of European records set by Russian swimmers before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

— Masha, at the current Russian Championship in St. Petersburg, there are more people, more movement. Or so it seems? There are literally lines for autographs.

— At the swimming center, where the Salnikov Cup was once held, many children also came, but there they were ignorant, they attacked all the finalists, without even understanding from whom they were taking autographs, now at Nevskaya Volna , they know the athletes, the leaders.

– How do you feel?

— You always want to swim better, even if you win everything, it won’t be enough and you want a better result. I wouldn’t say I’m in bad shape right now, but rather in average shape. I can’t say we expected it to be like this. I don’t know how it will be before the Salnikov Cup, maybe we will be even busier. Our main departure will be in September next year, with the “Friendship Games”.

— Are you going to the stages of the Russian Cup?

– Yes, but which ones in particular, I don’t know yet, it will be clear during the long water season.

— Arina Surkova was tearing and throwing at this Russian championship. Does this add motivation?

– Of course, you also want to swim faster when your opponent, friend and teammate shows such results. But we can tell it one by one. I was in better shape last year for the short course, Arina was a little worse.

— Nastya Fesikov announced her retirement, you have a common history. What are your emotions about this?

“I want to wish Nastya success in the future, may everything go well.” In 2012, I practically only knew her, because I was backstroke swimming and following her performances. Then I began to see her as a rival and not as a guide.

— Vladimir Valerievich Salnikov said that the federation is ready to apply to the CAS to protect your right to the official European record.

– Of course, this record is dear to me. It’s a shame that a year has passed and my achievements have not been recognized. Now there will be a European Championship and maybe someone will beat my time there, but I haven’t even been in the history of European swimming with my result, “Kameneva told .