32 years old Yulia Efimova competed in the 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2021 Olympic Games, where she won two silver and one bronze medals. She was granted neutral status from World Aquatics in June, won three gold medals at the Bahamas National Championships, but failed to meet Olympic standards in the 100 and 200m breaststroke.
That night, the 100-meter dash athlete clocked 1:07.98. But that wasn’t enough to qualify for Paris. Standard A is 1.06.79, Standard B is 1.07.12 and the selection deadline closes on June 23.
spoke to Efimova about this adventure. In an interview, the athlete explained why she decided to fly to the Bahamas and not Canada, and whether she now plans to prepare for the 2028 Olympic Games, which will be held in Los Angeles.
“Wouldn’t it be better in Vancouver”
— What did this trip give you – apart from the fact that you suddenly became a three-time Bahamian champion?
“These competitions only gave me experience. Now I am ready for anything, that it is possible to delay starts, give them half an hour earlier, and swim in a tropical downpour, with thunder and lightning, and when the water is heated at 32 degrees instead of 25 as needed. .. It turned out to be a very good workout. This has never happened in my career! Moreover, all at once.
In the morning, during the selection, the rain was heavier. During my finals it calmed down a bit, but then a storm started and the competition was canceled. The rain is so cold that it hits your body before you leave. And then you jump into very hot water, and a thought: “Damn! » But in the evening the water cooled down at least a little. Apparently, this is what is happening climatically in the Bahamas.
— You had two options on which flag to fly to pass the Olympic selection: there was also Vancouver. Maybe I should have gone to Canada instead of the tropical Bahamas?
– Maybe yes, maybe no. Flying to Canada was also very questionable. It’s just that there was the shortest flight to the Bahamas at 25 hours, with some delays and transfers. And it took 28 hours to fly to Vancouver, and it was the fastest ticket. This also plays a very important role. And take into account the time difference – compared to Moscow, it is not minus seven hours, like in the Bahamas, but already minus 10 hours.
“How will you get to the Olympics when everyone around you hates you?” »
— Our columnist Dmitry Guberniev criticized swimmers for refusing to qualify for the Olympics in neutral status: “Only Efimova does this, take her as an example!” But why did you only obtain neutral status in June and not in March? It’s too late?
— We can talk a lot about it. But you’ll remember what happened in the spring, when big names in the sports world were calling neutral-status athletes “homeless” or “foreign agents.” There was strong pressure from all sides. And how can you say: “I’ll still go to the Olympics” when everyone around you hates you?
And when there is no support from anywhere. Well, I can always find sponsors, get paid somewhere, I have a name and as usual, there is nothing to lose, as the saying goes. But how will others proceed?
There are federations which supported their athletes, and the athletes in neutral status will go to the Paris Olympics. And they don’t seem to have any problems. And so separately take and compete with everyone – there are few such athletes. They are afraid, they are young. What if what happens? They told us to do it this way, so we do it. It’s better to be like everyone else. And then you don’t know what they’re going to do to you. They will withdraw your bet and you will be left without any money.
It was hard for me. Maybe it’s really possible to organize everything on your own earlier. But I also had the feeling that I might not have been selected at all. This means arriving at the tournament early, adjusting to time zones, acclimatizing and solving many organizational problems.
Actually, three or four weeks ago I had a different plan. I thought I was going to go neutral and compete in a tournament in Italy. But they don’t care, and the Italians, even with this status, refused. I was sure that that was all: Paris was passing. And I didn’t prepare for any of the Bahamas. I just wanted to come to the Moscow Cup in perfect condition to compete. I was entered in the 200m medley and relay, and was asked to compete in freestyle. Just to do a good job.
And then, in less than 24 hours, the decision is made: you must fly to the Bahamas and seize your chance. What changes!
And to come back to your question: I am against blaming swimmers for not going against the tide to go to the Olympics. Now, if at the beginning of spring public opinion was the same as today, when cities are ready to pay millions to neutral athletes, even if there are no medals, and all everyone around said: “Come on, we have to go. any status! “, at least there was a strong alternative position – maybe someone would try it.
I didn’t dare ask for neutral status in the spring. Now I’ve done it. Because I am surrounded by people who supported me, who believed in me and who pushed me towards this Olympic dream. I would be very afraid to do this alone. I don’t want to go against public opinion. And now that has changed. Because even in a neutral position, everyone understands that we come from Russia and we defend our fans. And many want our athletes to achieve some success at the Olympic Games.
“We can go to the World Cup, I have to swim more”
— What to do next with the neutral status? Maybe go to the World Cup stages in Asia?
— In my opinion, there will only be stages in Asia. I looked: there is China, Singapore and, it seems, Hong Kong. When Italy refused me admission to the tournament, I thought: “My status is still good, so be it, I can participate in the World Cup.” » This solution immediately popped into my head.
In general, initially there were the following plans: to perform in Moscow, then return to the training camp, train, fly to Yekaterinburg for the Russian Cup final, then immediately to Kaliningrad, then trying to make it to the World Cup stages.
Plus, I have projects to work on that aren’t just related to my swimming performance. I won’t say what it is yet. But it also takes time.
I am very explosive and emotional, but I quickly drift away and immediately look for other benefits. I didn’t reach the Olympics, I will concentrate on my own projects. And in swimming you have to start more. I really feel like I’m missing some starts. I can’t even boot properly. I’m jumping slow, late, and even the people of the Bahamas lost. I need to spread out as much as possible.
— The 2028 Olympics will be held in Los Angeles and you have lived in this city for a long time. I think this is a powerful incentive for you to compete for four more years.
— Such thoughts come naturally to my mind. But these are just thoughts. In general, I was very exhausted these days. And also this pressure… I didn’t want anyone to know that I even went to the selection. And yet I arrived, my God.
From Taganrog to Volgodonsk, from Volgodonsk to Moscow – by car, by car. I spent a day and a half in Moscow, where the problem with the Bahamas was being resolved – an application for the tournament, visas, tickets, accommodation… I was mentally very tired and after the final hundred, I received the feeling that I wasn’t actually very upset – or, as usual, it had been on my mind for a long time. But physically, I can’t do anything at the moment, I gave everything. And mentally, there is a kind of burnout from this trip. I urgently need rest.
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Source : MatchTV
I’m John White and I’m an experienced journalist working in the news industry. My specialty is covering sports news, which I’ve been doing for over 6 years now. During this time, I have worked as an author with Athletistic, a popular online news website focusing on sports topics.
