Yulia Efimova: “Will I go to the World Championships in Budapest? Hooray!”

Triple Olympic medalist, six-time world swimming champion Yulia Efimova told that she was very happy to be part of the Russian national team for the trip to the World Cup in Budapest.

Evgenia Chikunova set the fastest time (2:17.89) in the 200m breaststroke final at the Russian Short Course Swimming Championships, which took place in St. Petersburg from November 21-26. The second time goes to Yulia Efimova (2.22.13). Both athletes met the “A” qualifying standard. Vice President of the Russian Swimming Federation Evgeny Korotyshkin told that Chikunova and Efimova are on the list of Russian athletes who intend to participate in December’s World Championships in Budapest.

— Tough day? You swam in the 200m breaststroke and relay…

— Yes, it’s very difficult to swim 200 m without preparation. Especially morally.

– But you have completed standard “A” with one reservation.

– I’m blurry. And everyone knows it perfectly well. It’s a shame that I couldn’t participate in the World Cup stages. I would be here in a different form. This really shows during the competition – despite the workload I have, I had no preparation. And I’m still unclear. So I still can.

— Head coach of the Russian national team Sergei Chepik announced to that you were included in the team for the trip to the World Championships in Budapest…

– Yes? Hooray! I’ll find out from you, I haven’t been told yet.

— Perform in the 100 and 200 m breaststroke.

“I really hope another fifty dollars gets added to it.” You never know… If they let me, I’ll swim.

— How important is your return to international level as a member of the national team for you?

“It seems to me that’s the only reason I swam 200m today – in the hopes of making the team for international competitions.” It prepared me for work. Because it was very difficult. They also put me in the relay race… Maybe it’s for the best. Even though I’m tired, I’m blurry.

— Is it realistic to see the former Yulia Efimova achieve her victories by July 2025, when the World Championships begin in Singapore? Or is that unrealistic at 33?

“If I have the opportunity to train calmly and thoroughly, I feel strong.” It’s just that, unfortunately, there have not yet been opportunities to organize a good, full-fledged training block. First one thing, then another, then a third. Either injuries, or a dog bite, or something else. That is, you can’t just prepare calmly.

– You need to organize the process…

– Yes. We need organization. I won’t be in Volgodonsk to prepare for the World Championships, although I really like being at home. But there just isn’t a 50m pool there.

— In general, do we resolve organizational issues and return the old Yulia?

“I think yes, such a plan exists,” Efimova told .

The World Short Course Swimming Championships will be held from December 10 to 15 in Budapest.

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