Farewell to Fesikov, return and diamond of Efimova, hat-trick of Chikunova for Zenit

In the Nevskaya Volna swimming pool in St. Petersburg during the Russian Championships, the swimmers had a great time. Russian records, brilliant interviews, football performances and touching farewells – we will tell you everything in order.

Chikunova scores hat-trick for Zenit, Efimova makes strong comeback

For two years, Yulia Efimova did not participate in the Russian championships. In November, in St. Petersburg, she competed in three breaststroke distances and finished on the podium in all three. Evgenia Chikunova won the 50, 100 and the 200m crown.

In the middle of the tournament, the confrontation between the pink and lilac caps in women’s breaststroke transformed into a footballing context. Efimova started in the Spartak jersey, and Chikunova (already at the “hundred”) in the Zenit jersey. And if Zhenya was inaccessible on the track, Efimova delivered a brilliant performance in mixed doubles. Posing for a joint photo, she outwitted Chikunova and, unknowingly, showed a “diamond”:

“I thought we would show a heart, a peaceful message, that we have good relationships, that everyone can be friends and at the same time rivals. And she says: “We need to straighten our fingers.” Apparently, I live in a kind of pink world. That is, in lilac, “Chikunova noted.

In the pink world of Efimova, after the traditional brightly colored swimming cap, a pink earpiece appeared, donated by fans. Julia herself was shocked to be on the 200m podium.

“Knowing in advance that you won’t be able to win, going out and swimming is not easy. But I did it!

The most moving moment of the championship

Before the start of the tournament, Olympic medalists Anastasia and Sergei Fesikov announced their retirement. The farewell swim of the champions became the most emotional moment of the championship. Anastasia swam the farewell 50m on her back, her husband swam the freestyle. After the turn, Sergei swam along the path towards Nastya and they completed the distance together.

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That time you couldn’t hold back your tears. Kliment Kolesnikov, who met the guys on board, also shed tears: “Seryoga and I have swum together for so many years. She and Nastya were captains together. I have given many motivational speeches. We were friends.”

And then everyone went to hockey

Les Fesikov, Efimova, Andrey Minakov, Ilya Shimonovich and Daria Mullakaeva rushed to hockey after such an emotional day. It was fun in the stands. The guys sang on the horse and somehow got going again.

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What is Surkova doing anyway?

Arina Surkova leads the championship. 0.2 seconds before Thérèse Alshammer’s world record in the 50m butterfly and the Russian record in the 100m butterfly. Also, at the end of the tournament, Arina won gold in the 50m freestyle.

“I didn’t even expect a record in the 100m butterfly!” I didn’t even touch the turn! – Surkova said later.

She is also absolutely the best athlete in terms of the number of medals in the tournament – five gold and two silver. But Arina is not the only one to leave the championship with a Russian record. Alexander Stepanov (800 ma/c, 7:34.58) and Ilya Borodin (200 m individual medley, 1:53.09) also updated their best achievements – personal and national.

Kornev beats Kolesnikov, but Klim is the best in the championship!

At the end of the vacation, Egor Kornev “stole” gold in the 100m freestyle from Kliment Kolesnikov.

“But Kliment’s personal result is even higher, so I still have to grow with him,” Kornev said and modestly noted that he plans to break the world record in the near future.

Kolesnikov, despite some problems with preparation, won four gold medals, one silver and became the absolute best athlete of the competition in terms of the number of points scored at the World Aquatics Championships. Among women, the best athlete according to this indicator was Evgenia Chikunova.