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Some heavy-hitters within Russian swimming are rallying around the hashtag #MichaelSwim4Russia in hopes that Michael Phelps will show up at the 2015 World Championships this year.
Dmitry Volkov, one of the top ambassadors of Russian swimming and an Olympic bronze medalist in the 100 breast at the 1988 Olympics, took time out during Russian Nationals to speak with several administrators and swimmers about Phelps potentially gaining a special dispensation from FINA to swim at the World Championships.
Alexander Popov:
Несколько слов от Александра Попова Майклу ФелпсуНесколько слов от Александра Попова Майклу Фелпсу #MichaelSwim4Russia #MichaelPhelps #ArmyofRussianSwimmers
Posted by Swim Illustrated on Saturday, April 25, 2015
In the video above, Popov says that he’d love to see Phelps in Russia and that he would have great support here. He ends his conversation saying “Come to Russia, bro!”
Yuliya Efimova:
Yuliya Efimova to Michael PhelpsA few words from Yulia Efimova to Michael Phelps #MichaelSwim4Russia #MichaelPhelps
Posted by Swim Illustrated on Saturday, April 25, 2015
Efimova, in English, had a bit of fun saying that all Russian girls love Phelps and that they want him to come swim in Kazan.
Yaroslav Novitskiy:
Yaroslav Novitskiy addressed to Michael PhelpsGuinness record-holder, Swimming world champion and records-holder in Masters, Winner of more than 3000 awards Yaroslav Novitskiy addressed to Michael Phelps#MichaelSwim4Russia #MichaelPhelps #ArmyofRussianSwimmers
Posted by Swim Illustrated on Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Novitsky, in English, says that not only should Phelps come and swim at the World Championships that he should also swim during World Masters also in Kazan.
Sergey Fesikov:
Сергей Фесиков о Майкле ФелпсеSergey Fesikov says about Michael Phelps#MichaelSwim4Russia #MichaelPhelps #ArmyofRussianSwimmers
Posted by Swim Illustrated on Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Fesikov seemed to be the only dissenter in the interviews, saying there were plenty of other Michaels to produce in Russia, and that he’d see Phelps in Rio.
Special thanks to Maria Dobysheva for Russian translation.
KING !!
O.o !!!
Everyone wants to swim with the best but is he ready?
No he is not. It will be too early to him to come back. Phelps has a huge history in the sport and he cannot risk this in order to promote the Worlds in Kazan.
What do you mean by “promote the Worlds in Kazan”? He wasn’t invited as a “honorable guest” like in Barcelona to “promote” or something . He honestly qualified for Kazan which means that performing at Worlds was among his priorities when he was planning comeback. He could have just relaxed, swum to make relays and used Trials as a high-level practice but nope, he posted World no.1 and made three individual events. Just to “promote Worlds”, really?
Čavić is better then Phelps
He should swim masters worlds to help him get ready
it’s stupid that that usa swimming would not let phelps swim. He has done so much for America and for the sport as a whole. #swim4russia#phelps
Don’t we all just want to see him race at an Olympic or world’s level
Screw what Russia wants.
#MichaelSwim4Russia 🙂
…. And Russia always gets what Russia wants…
Please give him dispensation to compete for WORLD’s everyone wants him to compete.
Thank you very much that you’re supporting our appeal!
#MichaelSwim4Russia