Russia Finishes Fifth in 50 m Butterfly at World Championships Event
The 2022 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore saw a strong performance from the Russian swimming team, who competed under the designation "Neutral Athletes" due to sanctions related to the conflict in Ukraine. Despite the restrictions, the team managed to secure a total of eight medals: three gold, four silver, and one bronze.
In a highlight of the event, the Neutral Athletes B squad (comprising Russian swimmers) set a European record of 3:26.93 in the men's 400-meter medley relay, securing the second-fastest time in history.
Individual achievements were also noteworthy. Kliment Kolesnikov, a Russian swimmer, clinched gold in the 50-meter backstroke with a time of 23.68 seconds, securing his first long course world title and recording the second-fastest performance ever for the event. Pavel Samusenko, another Russian swimmer, tied for silver in the same event.
Ilia Borodin, competing as a Neutral Athlete, earned a medal in the men’s 400 m individual medley, finishing close behind the silver medalist.
Russian swimmer Arina Surkova, a two-time world champion in short course swimming relay events, finished fifth in the 50m butterfly at the Championships.
The Russian swimming team's medal count at the event was a commendable achievement given the restrictions on their participation. The Championships, held from July 11 to August 3, saw a total of 1,039 events across six disciplines: swimming, diving, water polo, synchronized swimming, high diving, and open water swimming. However, Russian athletes were not allowed to participate in high diving and water polo, and they were competing under a neutral status in all other sports.
The location of the 2021 World Aquatics Championships was Singapore, but due to the tournament's postponement and the subsequent suspension of the Russian swimming team, their medal count at that event remains incomplete. The team's last participation in the World Aquatics Championships was six years ago in Gwangju, South Korea, where they won a total of 16 medals, including three gold, seven silver, and six bronze.
The news of the Russian swimming team's performance at the World Aquatics Championships is currently a topic of discussion on the "RBC Sport" Telegram channel. The World Aquatics Championships are an international swimming competition held every four years, providing a platform for the world's best swimmers to showcase their skills and compete for top honours.
In the 50m butterfly final, American swimmer Gretchen Walsh clinched the gold medal with a time of 24.83 seconds, with Australian swimmer Alexandra Perkins taking the silver (25.31 seconds) and Belgian swimmer Robbe Vanotterdijk claiming the bronze (25.43 seconds).
The Russian swimming team's journey at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore was a testament to their resilience and dedication, despite the challenges they faced. Their performances will undoubtedly inspire future generations of Russian swimmers and serve as a reminder of their potential on the international stage.
The Russian swimming team, competing under the designation "Neutral Athletes," showcased their resilience in the sports arena during the 2022 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, setting a European record in the men's 400-meter medley relay and securing a commendable medal count of three gold, four silver, and one bronze.
In individual events, Kliment Kolesnikov clinched gold in the 50-meter backstroke, setting a second-fastest performance ever for the event, while Pavel Samusenko tied for silver in the same event. These achievements in sports serve as a reminder of the Russian team's potential on the international stage.
