Kliment Kolesnikov swam the joint second-fastest 50 backstroke in history before returning to claim the 50 free title on day four of the Russian Championships in Kazan.
Arina Surkova lowered her own Russian 50 fly record to 25.61, taking 0.01 off the previous mark of 25.62 she set in November 2019 at a World Cup stop in Kazan.
Kolesnikov went 23.93 on his back to equal the time he swam in the semifinals of the 2021 European Championships in Budapest, then a world record which he lowered to 23.80 in the final.
No other man has dipped inside 24secs with Britain’s Liam Tancock the closest with his time of 24.04 from the 2009 World Championships at the helm of history until Kolesnikov sliced 0.04 to go 24.00 at the 2018 European Championships.
The two-time Olympic medallist returned later in the session to win the 50 free in 21.69 ahead of Daniil Markov (21.85) and Evgeny Sedov (22.19).
It has been some meet so far for Kolesnikov who won the 100 back in 53.03 – in which Evgeny Rylov was third in 53.20 despite the Olympic champion having been banned by FINA following his appearance at a rally with Vladimir Putin in support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
However, FINA confirmed to Swimming World on Wednesday that Rylov can continue given the meet is not a FINA-sanctioned event.
Kolesnikov next appears in the 100 free on Thursday.
Come what may, however, there will be no Russian representation in international waters this year with FINA having barred them and Belarus from the World Championships in Budapest following the invasion of Ukraine.
European body LEN had already stated that athletes from the two countries would be banned from their events “until further notice”.
Chupkov Overhauls Rivals To Claim 200 Breaststroke
Anton Chupkov: Photo Courtesy: Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto
Anton Chupkov came from third at halfway to win the 200m breaststroke in 2:07.79.
Kirill Prigoda reached the 100 mark in 1:01.88, 0.54 clear of Alexander Zhigalov (1:02.42) with Chupkov a further 0.04 adrift in 1:02.46.
The Rio bronze medallist – winner of the last two world titles in 2017 and 2019 – turned on the power with a third 50 of 32.55 to reach the final turn 0.14 ahead, a lead he extended with a final length of 32.78.
Prigoda was second in 2:08.35 with Zhigalov next home in 2:09.29.
Anna Egorova led from start to finish to claim a clear victory in the women’s 400 free in 4:06.04, 2.3secs ahead of Valeria Salamatina (4:08.34) with the fast-finishing Anastasia Guzhenkova (4:08.40).
Nika Godun won the women’s 100br in 1:06.66 ahead of Evgenia Chikunova (1:07.10) and Tatyana Belonogoff (1:07.23) and Anna Chernyseva won the 200IM in 2:14.84.