“I understand Efimova why she was so eager to attend her fifth Olympics. But sport does not like hustle and bustle.” – Popov

Four-time Olympic champion and IOC honorary member Alexander Popov said in an interview with that the Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova probably made a mistake in preparing the selection for the Paris Olympic Games.

In June, Efimova received neutral status from the International Swimming Federation (World Aquatics), which allows her to compete in international competitions under the auspices of the organization. The Russian tried to qualify for the Paris Games through the Bahamas Championship, but failed to meet the standard in two breaststroke distances.

— Yulia Efimova rushed to the Bahamas championship to qualify for the Olympics. It didn’t work out, but at least she tried.

— In general, sports are a very interesting and exciting thing. It is contagious: once you win, you always want more. I understand perfectly why Yulia was so eager to attend her fifth Olympic Games. On the other hand, sports do not like fuss. Now, if something does not work out, you just have to sit down and choose the most optimal route of movement in order to eliminate unnecessary movements. And achieve maximum results without problems. It’s just a matter of planning. Maybe they made a mistake somewhere,” Popov told .

Efimova is 32 years old, she has participated in four Olympic Games, won two silver medals and one bronze, and became a six-time world champion.

The Olympic Games in the French capital will take place from July 26 to August 11. Evgeny Somov, who will participate in the Games as a neutral, will compete in swimming in Paris from Russia.

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