“I fell in love with Formula 1.” I sing Smooth Operator and it gets easier. Chikunova – about the season and a new hobby

Swimming world record holder Evgenia Chikunova preparing to start the Russian Championships in Kazan. This is the first of the main departures of the season, which this year present a rich geography. In an interview with , Chikunova explained what goals she sets for herself and what Carlos Sainz has to do with it.

— Kazan first, then Banja Luka. Do you need to change location to change emotionally? Can you do this?

– When it is mentally difficult, it is better for me to swim and swim, then it will be better. I can then stay in the pool as long as I want. But it is precisely when we are preparing for departure, when we work a lot during the week, that we just need to change the subject: go to our room, watch a television series, read a book and exhale. .

In the case of Bosnia, this is a good opportunity. This already helps me a lot, even when we start in different cities of Russia. I was incredibly happy to go to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk last year, there are such good people there. When we went to Vladivostok before the Olympics, we also really liked it.

We just went to Kaliningrad and had good impressions. But I would like to see more – go to Zelenogradsk, to the Curonian Spit. There was little time. I only went to Immanuel Kant’s grave and walked around the fish village. That’s all.

After the Russian championship, I’m going to Bosnia. I’m really looking forward to it, I miss competing! Then I will go to the stage of the Russian Cup in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, I have already told Vitta Vladimirovna (Novozhilova, coach – approx.) that I want to go there.

— You are no longer fit for the BRICS Games due to your age…

– I was very upset. I wanted to see the guys from South Africa again, I really liked it there.

— Have you watched the World Cup?

— I didn’t see the show, only the results – the girls swam well in February.

— Will anyone be able to beat your record at the Paris Olympics?

— Kate Douglas swam very well in the 200m breaststroke, but not in Doha. They caught up with her there. It was a bit disappointing for Kate, who had shown good seconds before. I think if you don’t count me, she’s the favorite. Whether it will come close to my seconds in Paris is a question. It’s also hard to tell from a distance if she can improve, because we don’t know how she trains. But she will be ready for the Games at exactly 2 minutes 19 seconds.

– What is your task?

— Get closer to the 200m record.

– And a hundred?

— I would like to get closer to the Russian record, that would be great.

— What is your relationship with the record? Do you like him or is he already annoying because now everyone is asking about him?

– We have love with him. I was able to write the story, it’s important to me.

— Vladimir Salnikov said that for Russian swimmers, the Paris Olympics are turn the page. It’s true?

—Will I go to the Olympics? No. And I will not receive neutral status.

— Do you want to turn off the TV?

– No, I’ll keep an eye on it. But I don’t consider myself a neutral athlete. In principle, I do not understand the IOC’s position. They set such conditions and think that everyone will immediately run to perform in a neutral status? If anyone makes this trip, swims, runs, participates in the Games, I will encourage and support them. I will be happy that someone has come a long way for a dream.

But I think the conditions in which we won’t even be in the medal rankings are extreme. In Tokyo I competed for the Russian Olympic Committee team, there was an affiliation, but now there will be none at all. Setting such conditions is a shame for the IOC. Choice without choice. I think they understand that a small number of people will do this.

— What if Yulia Efimova made up her mind?

“I will support her.” But, once again, I don’t see myself in the status of a neutral athlete. I’m turning 20 this year. I don’t intend to finish. I hope I still have the Olympics. I will perform in Russia, my records will count.

— Do you have any vacation plans?

— Our season is busy: the Friendship Games take place in September, then the short aquatic season. I do not know yet. By the way, I have a new hobby: Formula 1. I would like to go see it one day.

– Who won the heart?

—Carlos Sainz. I sing Smooth Operator and it gets easier. After football, I started to become more interested in other sports. Now I really like football and basketball, I love Formula 1. I’m discovering new sports and getting involved!