Russia’s only neutral representative at the Paris Games in swimming Evgeny Somov finished his performance at the Olympics. Many generally thought that Somov was a random person at these Games. The first question to Zhenya is exactly about this.
– Isn’t that offensive?
“People who don’t understand swimming don’t follow swimming: I was unknown to them.” But I had a Russian youth record, a European youth record, medals at the World and European Junior Championships.
– You are not a man who came from nowhere.
– Well, yes. At some point I just went to America to study, swam in short waters, focused on my tasks, got an education, and at some point I stopped swimming. But I’m sure people who know about swimming know me.
— By the way, how do you use your education?
— I have a degree in communications, but I work as a coach, that’s all.
— How do you assess the level of swimming coverage in Russia?
— In general, if you compare the media in Russia and the United States, it doesn’t matter what it is – swimming, basketball, it’s a completely different level. I would like to see more promotion of the sport, more competitions. American swimmers on the national team are superstars. We have Clement – a superstar who swims at the same level as the Americans, he is a world record holder, but according to the same subscribers on social networks, the difference is colossal. I would like the media coverage to be at the same level, and then sponsors will come and there will be more attention to the sport.
— Have you read comments where you are judged on the number of tattoos you have?
– I saw it, yes. Well, let them judge.
– When did you manage to fill so much?
— Since I was 21, in four years I did it. And these people who write such comments and I live slightly different lives. My mother also does not like all my tattoos. He says “this one is good, but this one is not so good” … And about the comments of strangers – if I go to them on social networks, I am sure that there will also be something that I do not like.
— Did you watch Nastya Kirpichnikova swimming from the stands?
– Yes! Great overall. She and I were a team at the youth level. She has been working on it for a long time, this medal is a turning point for her. Only Katie Ledecky lost – consider yourself a gold winner.
— I caught myself thinking during the final that everything would be fine, that it was another Nastya – there would be a medal!
“You always swim with more confidence when you know you can do it, when you have the opportunity.” She qualified third for the final. So, I think, I went out and knew ‘right now, right now’. When she was second in the 400, I was sure she wouldn’t give up hers now.
— The first women’s medal for France since 2012.
– Superstar! She won a medal at the team’s home Olympics. No one in Russia has swum such long distances among women. She is the best on the French women’s team.
— Why didn’t you change your sports citizenship? Or didn’t you think about anything during your career break?
“I certainly didn’t think about it during the break.” Well, changing sports citizenship is a process that requires a lot of work. Who would want to take me if I haven’t swam for two years?
—A team from some exotic islands. There would be an option, I’m sure.
– But if you decide to do this, I would like to swim for a team that has some kind of support. And I would like a more serious option. Then the opportunity arose to obtain neutral status. In addition, if the situation changes, we will return, I will be able to compete for my country. I would swim in the relay race – it turns out strong!
— The final swim of the 100-meter breaststroke was called the weakest in recent history. Do you have any regrets about not participating? The results of the winners were weak.
– No offense. I swam my way. Yes, the final time was low, but everyone swam slower than their personal best. I don’t mind. It’s clear that the thought came to my mind: I would have won with my personal best, but if only… No one swam according to their personal best.
— Viktor Borisovich Avdienko said that he would wait for you at the Russian departures if you do not close the doors to each other.
– I don’t know what he meant. I miss St. Petersburg, my village, my friends. People from St. Petersburg support me and write to me. Someone may have complaints against me because I live in the United States, but I still have the same passport.
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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.
