Yulia Efimova: “I feel sincere joy from swimming again, now I want to continue”

Triple Olympic medalist in swimming Yulia Efimova in an interview with , she said that in November she had doubts about her future career, but now her confidence has returned.

This season, the 31-year-old is participating in tournaments in Russia for the first time in two years. She became first at the competitions of the Astrakhan Federal District three times. At the distances of 50 meters, 100 m and 200 m breaststroke at the Russian Short Course Swimming Championships in St. Petersburg, Efimova became third. At December’s Vladimir Salnikov Cup, she became first in the 50-meter breaststroke and second in the 100-meter breaststroke.

— I was happy that in December at the Salnikov Cup you won the 50m breaststroke final. So the weather is getting better?

– Yes, there is progress. For me, I was always in good shape from start to finish. And when you don’t start for a long time and stagnate, you understand why the results in November at the Russian Championship were slower than in December.

In general, in November I still doubted and did not know why, how, why. And now my confidence is back. I felt like I could compete. And even at the Salnikova Cup I came out with such confidence that I really thought: I will definitely win. I was only worried about how to remove the suit before departure.

But I saw that my speed was getting faster. We had to sort out some starting and turning issues, even though it was business as usual. We have to work on this, I know everything. And the confidence comes back thanks to the professional starts, and I need more competitions.

— Do you think the Russian Championship will be even better in the spring?

– Certainly. But the best part is that I feel the sincere joy of swimming again. It was like that before. In recent years, before the break, I had such a feeling when swimming to the finish line: okay, start and start. And now I really feel these emotions and I see clearly how happy I am. I missed those feelings.

Overall, this reboot gave me great inspiration. I advise everyone to do it. A lot of things fell on me – the last Olympics, many events… I tried to hold on. But there was no pleasure in what you were doing.

And then I rested – and initially I didn’t think I would return to this level. I just wanted to leave gracefully. I only swam for two and a half months and got sick. She participated only in competitions in Astrakhan in order to achieve the declared result. I immediately went to the Russian championship.

And suddenly I arrive at the top! And I immediately put myself on the pedestal! I have strength – I felt it within me. And now I want to continue,” Efimova told .