“Somov’s Russian correspondence file is cool. At least it’s an indicator that he can swim.” – Kolesnikov

Double Olympic medalist Kliment Kolesnikov called the Russian record, set by a swimmer in absentia, cool Evgeny Somov .

Somov is the winner of the World and European Junior Championships. The swimmer qualified for the 2024 Olympics and competed in neutral status. Somov failed to qualify in the 50-meter freestyle and failed to qualify for the 100-meter breaststroke final.

— I didn’t watch the swims themselves. I saw the results, read his interview. I swam the way I swam. Something also depends on the pool. In his swim, the guys usually showed a weak time compared to other results. And he swam with them the same way. We didn’t communicate personally about it. We know each other, we communicated, but we haven’t met recently. The fact that he went there is his own business.

Would he have qualified for the Olympic Games if the Russian team had fully participated in them? I cannot answer this question. I do not see, I do not know how he trains, at what time he shows up for constant competitive training. The Russian record he set in absentia in the 100m breaststroke distance [58,72] – It’s great. At least one indicator that he knows how to swim. Would Evgeniy be able to fight here for a place in the national team? I think so. Until 2018, he actively participated in Russian and international competitions, ”Kolesnikov told Soviet Sport.

The Olympic Games took place in Paris from July 26 to August 11. The Russians competed in a neutral position.

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