Olga Brusnikina: “Close cooperation with my foreign colleagues was abruptly interrupted, but they gave me answers in personal correspondence”

President of the Russian Synchronized Swimming Federation Olga Brusnikina in an interview with , she said that before the exclusion of Russians from international tournaments there was active cooperation with foreign colleagues, but now formal ties have been severed.

Since 2023, new rules have come into force in synchronized swimming, in particular concerning the evaluation of components, the duration of programs and the reform of the judging system.

— These months are witnessing a colossal transformation in synchronized swimming. Our sport is evolving a lot. Nowadays, the emphasis is on the technical training of athletes and the complexity of compositions. There are now more details and numbers in refereeing that influence the outcome. There are losses in terms of artistic perception of synchronized swimming and the beauty of the performance. And the international federation clearly sees this in light of the results of the past year, when new rules have just been introduced.

— Is it really possible to change them?

– I think so, some changes will be made. But only after the Olympic Games. The Artistic Swimming Committee of the International Federation has already announced that until the Olympic Games, everything will remain as it is. After Paris 2024, some changes will be made. As I understand it, they will be linked to the defense of beauty and artistry in our sport.

I communicate with foreign colleagues, with judges and coaches – and I know that this topic is being discussed among them. They want to create a certain balance within our judgment, which will contain the equality of all factors. And artistry, complexity and synchronicity. Well, what can we do in this case? Just wait for some changes. Everyone understands that there are distortions today.

— But you don’t have the right to attend these meetings where we discuss the rules?

— Yes, they take place without the participation of Russia.

– Paradox.

– This surprises me too. Before our suspension, we were actively working with our colleagues. I was a member of the artistic swimming committee of the international federation. There, this decision is explained by a sort of security. Although I cannot imagine what danger myself or the Russian athletes or coaches who came to the competition could pose. But that’s exactly what they explain. Unfortunately, I must note that our close and close cooperation has been abruptly interrupted. Including according to the rules and this transformation that we are currently experiencing.

But in personal correspondence, people always respond to me and give answers to questions. Therefore, contacts are maintained,” Brusnikina told .