Evgeniia Chikunova Wins 200m Breaststroke In 2:19.71 As Swim Cup Of Russia Wraps Up
Evgeniia Chikunova claimed the 200 breaststroke faster than the time that secured world gold as the Swim Cup of Russia concluded on Sunday in Kazan.
The meet features swimmers from Russia and Belarus who are banned from the international stage following the invasion of Ukraine and coincides with the World Championships in Fukuoka which also ended on Sunday.
Chikunova’s 2:17.55 in April has been ratified as a world record despite Russian athletes not competing on the international stage.
However, rather than use the term ‘banned,’ World Aquatics told Swimming World:
“Since early 2022, Russian and Belarus are not invited to participate in World Aquatics competitions. This continues today.”
Chikunova splits: 32.54/1:08.16 (35.62)/1:44.11 (35.95)/2:19.71 (35.60).
It was the second-quickest time of the 18-year-old’s career and swifter than the winning time at the Fukuoka worlds where Olympic champion Tatjana Schoenmaker claimed gold in 2:20.80.
A second 50 of 24.44 propelled Ivan Girev from fifth at halfway to the 100 free title in 47.78 as the first three all came home in 47s.
Kliment Kolesnikov – who was 0.91 ahead of Girev at the turn – was second in 47.88 with Egor Kornev taking third in 47.98.
Kolesnikov, the Olympic bronze medallist, has had a medal-laden week, also securing the 50-100 back double as well as 50 free gold.
He also crushed Hunter Armstrong‘s 50 back world record by 0.16 in 23.55 while setting the second-fastest time in history of 23.68 to take gold.
Justin Ress won the world title on Sunday in 24.05.
Olympic champion Evgeny Rylov won the 200 back in 1:55.79 with Ilya Shymanovich taking the 50 breaststroke in 26.56 and Andrei Minakov the 100 fly in 51.57.
There were victories for Svetlana Chimrova in the 100 fly in 57.68 and Valeriya Salamatina in the 200 free (1:59.34),
Alexander Kharlanov won the 200 fly in 1:56.10 and Alexander Stepanov took the 1500 in 15:00.11.
Saint Petersburg quartets won both the men’s and women’s 4×100 medley relays in 3:30.79 and 4:01.94.