Today the Aquatics Palace hosts the kickoff of the Russian Swimming Championships which are a qualifying competition to meet the eligibility requirements for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2021. Over 400 athletes have arrived in Kazan to compete for medals in 42 disciplines.
During the press approach prior to the evening programme of the first competition day Vladimir Salnikov, President of the Russian Swimming Federation (RSF), said that the current championships are an important step in preparation for the Olympics. “In fact, lack of starts during the pandemic caused lots of missouts, the athletes did not train in pools for months. And of course it’s important now for them to track how they are coming back in good form as they compete”, said Vladimir Salnikov.
This year, 461 swimmers entered for the championships. According to the President of the Russian Swimming Federation, it is somewhat fewer than usual. As a rule, in previous years the championships were attended by 600–700 athletes. However, 60 regions of Russia are represented at the event. Besides, foreign athletes who train at the FINA Development Centre and swimmers from Belarus who received the permission to participate will also compete in the championship. “The championship has an open status. It is confirmed in the FINA calendar and is an official competition where athletes can qualify for the Olympics,” said Vladimir Salnikov.
He mentioned that some well-known athletes are not taking part. “However, the championships will not lose its luster, I think. I am sure we will find out new names,” said the RSF President.
Vladimir Salnikov paid attention to the fact that the Russian Championships are traditionally held in Kazan. “The Organizing Committee went through all the top-level trials – the Universiade, World Championships. It is a coordinated team which organizes everything on the highest level,” he said.
Tatarstan’s Minister of sports Vladimir Leonov reminded that originally the championships were to be held in spring but it had to be postponed like the Olympic Games. The republican Minister of sports also said that the Aquatic Palace, where the championships are held, has experience of various aquatic events. He added that at the championships Tatarstan is represented by 25 athletes.
The Swimming Federation put a great effort to provide athletes with the opportunity to train during the corona virus pandemic, as the main coach of the Russian swimming team Sergey Chepic told the journalists. “We paused training on 27 March, virtually for a month, a bit more or less for somebody. Then we found the opportunity to train at the Lake Krugloye sports camp and in the Iskra club, the RSF’s camp in Volgograd. The Lake Krugloye camp met us halfway. We spent a 3–5 day quarantine there, depending on where we came from, and then trained,” said Sergey Chepik. “Basically those who wanted had the opportunity to train. The Federation put a very big effort, first of all organizational.”
Anton Chupkov, Olympic medal winner and world record setter, commented on the plans for the championships, “After the break we’ve been doing our regular job preparing, there was a lot of time before the championships. And we will try to deliver good results here.”
The championships take place in the Aquatics Palace until 30 October.
Press Office of Directorate for Sports and Social Projects