“Imposing an opinion on OI aggressively is a mistake.” Kolesnikov – on the right to choose and the summer season

Very soon, the swimmers will open the summer block of competitions: in July-August, the team will compete in the finals of the Russian Cup and the Baltic Sea Cup.

We spoke with Kliment Kolesnikov about whether he enjoyed spending the summer in Moscow, how he views the discussion about neutral status and the Olympics, and his plans for the end of the season.

— It seems that this year there are more of you in the media space. Am I wrong?

— Actually, I don’t know if I’m more or less in the information field, I can only tell you that I started a telegram channel and I run it for the soul. There was a desire to open up a little more to those who follow my performances, but who know me only from contests and interviews, and in everyday life I’m too different from this photo. I wanted to share everyday things, something cool.

– And important. For example, an article about okroshka. So kvass or kefir?

– On the kvass!

— Is the kvass homemade or purchased?

– Bought. Among those available quickly – in Teremka. When I lived with my parents, they bought kvass in Sergiev Posad, and there was a woman there who sold kvass in barrels. The kvass was delicious, I brought it to the children from Krugloye to try it.

— The next one deserves a separate discussion. In the comments they write that it’s all okroshka’s fault!

https://t.me/Kliment_Kolesnikov/118

– Yes, it’s for fun, for joking. We’re having fun. Why not lighten up today’s seriousness with such simple things?

— By the way, the channel first reported in detail about this health problem before the World Championships in Gwangju. Why did you decide to tell me now?

— When everything happened, I made brief comments, and there was no need to say more at that time. Now I wanted to share this as a story from my life, when I had to overcome difficult circumstances and, despite everything, return to training.

— Were you afraid that this would be the end of your sporting career?

— I always start from the facts. Before the operation, they didn’t tell me what the consequences might be, but when everything was behind me, they told me that if I was late for one day, then I would have to undergo a serious operation, which could cost me a lot. the opportunity to continue playing sports. And this operation did not go without leaving a trace either. And the problem remains, even though it was stopped.

— Because of this, you lost the ability to swim 200 m?

– Yes, it limited me physically. I swam in a few pools and my arm went numb. That’s when it was unpleasant. And we didn’t know how long it would all take.

— Let’s go back to this season. Did you go to the training camp in Kabardinka this year?

– No, I was at home.

— How is summer in Moscow?

— Heat-wise, not much. Everything is fine, the weather is great, but in the daily work rhythm, it’s hard. I prefer when the temperature is more comfortable, so I can walk around with a jacket.

— In connection with all the stories about participation or non-participation in the Olympic Games, serious passions have flared up – no matter whether you decided to skip the Games or perform, they will still condemn you. How do you feel about this?

“It’s impossible to ignore it, simply because it’s everywhere, even in non-sports groups and social networks. It makes me a little sad to think that people can’t have a simple approach to all this. You have an opinion – and that’s good, but imposing it on someone, even in an aggressive form, is not good, it’s wrong.

I decided not to go to the Olympics, I don’t regret it and at the same time I never imposed my opinion on anyone. From a sporting point of view, I understand the guys who want to try their luck and go to the Olympics. From a human point of view, even if I don’t share this position, I won’t condemn anyone. And the fact that people stir up these conflicts is incomprehensible to me. Everyone makes their own choice, but why create this farce? … We need to be more friendly.

— Have you followed the history of Yulia Efimova’s selection?

— It was impossible not to follow (Laughs). Again, Yulia wanted to qualify for the Games. And what? Should I blame her? What did she do? People are just, apparently, already so used to sitting on their phones and spending their lives consuming only content that everything turns into online aggression… Just look away from your phone, go for a walk, after all.

— Regarding Zhenya Somov… Did you meet him in the juniors?

— We have known each other since my first Youth European Championship in Hungary. We accompanied him in junior competitions until 2018. So I know him. Then it so happened that he went to the USA to study and swim. An ordinary guy. I was surprised and happy that after such a lull he swam faster than the Russian record. That’s good! And the fact that he decided to go to the Olympics, I take it calmly – it’s his choice.

— Are you going to watch the Olympics?

— I’ll keep an eye on the guys whose performances I always follow in principle.

— Did you follow the American selection?

— I looked at the results, Murphy, as always, surprises. This will be his third Olympic Games for which he qualifies, maintaining this level of results. I can’t imagine how much physical and mental strength it takes to train like this for so many years!

— What do you think about Matt Grevers swimming in the seventh Olympic Games?

“He’s actually a cool guy in his own right.” He and I swam for the same ISL club. I can’t say we talked much, but we exchanged a few words, he’s inspiring and impressive in a good way.

— The finals of the Russian Cup and the Baltic Sea Cup coincide with the Olympic Games. The results will be compared exactly. How do you feel about this?

“If we swim worse, I won’t be surprised if they put us on the Internet for that; if we swim well, they’ll say: well, what, we swam inside the country, and that’s it.” I will swim for myself, I have my own tasks, I work on them and I hope to accomplish them.

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