By Maria Dobysheva
Russia announced its roster for short course European Championships in Israel (December 2-6).
For the first time ever Russia will perform at the international meet without its main stars – Vladimir Morozov and Yulia Efimova. All the Russian group training in U.S. (included Nikita Lobintsev and Alexander Sukhorukov), scratched this meet.
16 women and 22 men qualified at the Russian Nationals held this week. National multimedalists Darya K Ustinova, Victoria Andreeva, Nikita Konovalov and Oleg Kostin made the team in three individual events.
Women
1. Victoria Andreeva (200 free, 200 IM, 100 IM)
2. Sofia Andreeva (200 breast)
3. Maria Astashkina (100 breast, 200 breast)
4. Elizaveta Barazarova 4×50 free
5. Polina Egorova (50 back)
6. Natalia Ivaneeva (50 breast, 100 breast)
7. Darya Kartashova (100 IM, 4×50 free)
8. Alina Kashinskaya (50 fly)
9. Anastasia Kirpichnikova (800 free)
10. Natalia Lovtsova (50 free, 100 free)
11. Rosalya Nasretdinova (50 free)
12. Arina Opyonysheva (400 free)
13. Veronika Popova (100 free, 200 free)
14. Iryna Prikhodko (100 back, 200 back)
15. Darya K Ustinova (500 back, 100 back, 200 back)
16. Darya Tsvetkova (50 fly)
Men
1. Vyatcheslav Andrusenko (200 free, 400 free)
2. Andrey Arbuzov (50 free)
3. Dmitry Gorbunov (400 IM)
4. Stanislav Donets (100 back)
5. Sergey Kashpersky (200 IM)
6. Alexander Klyukin (100 free, 4×50 free)
7. Nikita Konovalov (50 fly, 100 fly, 100 back)
8. Nikita Konovalov (100 IM)
9. Oleg Kostin (50 breast, 100 breast, 200 breast)
10. Alexander Krasnykh (200 free, 400 free)
11. Roman Larin (200 back)
12. Andrey Nikolaev (50 breast)
13. Daniil Pasynkov (200 IM)
14. Daniil Pakhomov (200 fly)
15. Alexander Popkov (50 fly)
16. Alexander Sadovnikov (100 fly)
17. Evgeny Sedov (50 free)
18. Nikolay Skvortsov (200 fly)
19. Oleg Tikhobaev (4×50 free)
20. Sergey Fesikov (100 free, 100 IM)
21. Anton Chupkov (100 breast, 200 breast)
22. Andrey Shabasov (50 back, 200 back)
Head coach of Russian national team Sergey Kolmogorov told that before their trip to Israel, all the swimmers should pass a double doping test first. “Nobody will go to Israel without that test”, said Kolmogorov.
I could be unkind and suggest that in light of recent developments Russia should be barred from the competition but banning so snd boycotts only hurt the athlete. The Russian swimmer(s) who have committed doping offenses have served their penalty or are currently under suspension so get on with things and let’s move forward from here.
And I would hate to think that Rissian swimmers would be banned from Rio. That would be a real tragedy.
Ditto for Mr. Sun.