Yulia Efimova: “I worked too much in Hawaii. That’s why the injuries started”

Triple Olympic medalist, six-time world swimming champion Yulia Efimova in an interview with , she said that at the beginning of 2024 she was actively training abroad and had slightly miscalculated the load.

— You spent the beginning of 2024 colorfully: swimming in Hawaii, skiing somewhere in the mountains. Share your thoughts.

— I trained a lot in the pool, I also went hiking and climbing in the mountains. It’s also a good cardio workout. I did a good block of work. You could even say she worked too hard. And now I’m back in Russia, and with my coach, dad, we will try to coordinate everything that has been developed as well as the equipment.

— While training in Hawaii, did you keep in mind a certain distance or someone’s time as a guide?

– No, that didn’t happen. I was just training to try to get back in shape.

— Looking at your photos, one might be envious: the sun, the ocean, beaches, snow-white mountains – you are charged with emotions like a battery, having absorbed incredible energy.

— I’m only a few days away from the flight. And so I was really mightily charged. It is much easier to train heavy when you are in a nice, warm place with positive emotions. You can plow like this even in winter, in the city. But all this is much more complicated.

And I’m an emotional person. And for me, emotions are very important. I’ll take care of it, it makes me feel good. As a result, I worked too much in Hawaii. That’s why the injuries started. So far my condition is serious, but I hope I will recover before the Russian Championship.

— What factors influence?

— Acclimatization is understandable. And in Hawaii, I swam without a coach. Dad was home. But we constantly communicated remotely. He writes me a training plan, I send him a video. But it’s still a little different from when he sees me live, and he can correct me on the technique. And when a coach is standing over you, you swim much better.

On the other hand, I swam alone without major problems. I’m already at the age where this is normal for me. I no longer need to be forced to swim faster. On the contrary, sometimes you have to slow me down so that I don’t train too much,” Efimova told .

From March 19 to 22, the Moscow Long Water Swimming Championship (50 m) will be held at the Aquatoria ZIL sports complex, in which Efimova will participate.