“The attitude towards us on the international scene has not changed at all. Our opponents are happy to see us” – swimmer Shimanovich

Belarusian swimmer Ilya Shimanovich told that the attitude towards Russians and Belarusians in the international arena has not changed and rivals are still happy to see athletes from these countries at major tournaments.

In January 2024, 30-year-old Shimanovich received neutral status from World Aquatics, which gave him the right to participate in international tournaments.

— You are preparing through competitions for the World Short Course Swimming Championships in Budapest. What importance does this Russian championship have for you?

— Yes, I am an older athlete and I like to peak through a lot of starts. I don’t like a lot of monotonous work in training. She’s too exhausting. If this was some kind of fight, then fine. But when you swim alone, it’s a bit boring. That’s why I’m gaining momentum through starts and good competition. This is exactly how I get to the main starting point – Budapest.

In my calendar, this Russian championship is listed as a successful start. To not spend three or four weeks in training camps, but to do a small training camp, start, look at the mistakes and edit them. But I am very satisfied with the competition in St. Petersburg. The results are very close, a good fight, which keeps me in suspense. And I am happy that I was able to accelerate Kirill Prigoda to the point that he set a Russian record in the 100m breaststroke. And I’m happy to have achieved a good time over this distance and to have won.

— Did you know for a long time that you were going to Budapest? The Russians became aware of this possibility literally on Monday.

— I knew last year that I would go there. I competed in the World Championships in Doha in February. And I was sure that I would go to Hungary in December. There were no surprises for me. Yes, it is more convenient to be in great shape when you have a clearly planned schedule. Although for me it was not a critical moment. When I have the opportunity to go to such a tournament, I always prepare for it.

— How did they react in Belarus to the fact that you obtained neutrality status?

— I would answer the question differently. When I started competing in international tournaments again, I didn’t notice any changes in my opponents. Everyone is always happy to see us, everyone treats us with maximum positivity. There was no negativity. Although we played without an anthem or flag, the attitude towards us did not worsen. And everyone knows perfectly well who you represent.

— Are Belarusian fans happy that you win international competitions?

– Yes, of course – I always had support, so that remains. People rejoice when our athletes win,” Shimanovich told .

Watch live broadcasts of the Russian Short Course Swimming Championship on and the holding’s channels, as well as on the websites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.

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