2025 RUSSIAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- April 13-18, 2025
- Kazan, Russia
- LCM (50 meters)
- Meet Central
- Live Results
- Livestream
The 2025 Russian Swimming Championships concluded today in Kazan, Russia, serving as the sole qualifying opportunity for those aiming to compete at the World Championships in Singapore this July. The men’s 100 freestyle final was a clear highlight, featuring three swimmers at 48.1 or faster and six swimmers at 48.5 or better.
21-year-old Egor Kornev dominated the race, touching 1st with a time of 47.55, the only swimmer under 48 seconds. He delivered an outstanding performance in last night’s semifinals, notching a new personal best of 47.42—the third-fastest time in the world this season—and becoming the second-fastest Russian of all time in the event. He also currently holds the world-leading time in the 50 free, having won that event earlier in the meet with a time of 21.43.
Kornev’s splits tonight were nearly identical to those in the semifinals, just a few hundredths slower on both 50s. He opened in 22.66 and closed in 24.89, compared to 22.60 and 24.82 from yesterday.
Andrei Minakov took 2nd place with a time of 48.16, 0.63 behind Kornev. His splits were 23.48 for the first 50 and 24.68 for the second.
Minakov, who broke the Russian national record in the fly earlier in the meet, secured a spot on the team in this event for at the World Championships by dipping under the Russian-mandated time of 48.18. He also holds a personal best of 47.57 from 2020, when he briefly held the world junior record.
Finishing 3rd was Vladislav Grinev, who clocked a time of 48.17, just 0.01 behind Minakov. Grinev’s splits were 23.47 for the first 50 and 24.70 for the second. He is the third-fastest Russian in history, with a personal best of 47.43 from 2019. He won the bronze medal in this event at the 2019 Worlds in Gwangju.
Ivan Girev and Vasily Kukushkin tied for 4th place, both touching in 48.42. Girev went out in 23.33 and closed in 25.09, while Kukushkin had one of the fastest opening 50s at 22.77, but faded slightly on the back half with a 25.65.
Russian record holder and current world leader in both the 50 and 100 back, Kliment Kolesnikov, finished 6th with a time of 48.50 (22.71/25.79), fading significantly over the final 50 and finishing well off his personal best of 47.11.
Given the deep domestic field in Russia, their flat-start times add up to 3:12.17 when factoring in Kornev’s faster semifinal time. When considering relay swings, which will promote faster splits, along with the potential of Kolesnikov and Minakov getting closer to their personal bests, Team Russia has a great chance to challenge for the podium in Singapore this summer. They’ll face tough competition from the likes of Olympic champions Team USA, 2024 World Champions China, 2023 World Champions Australia, the ever-consistent Italians, and Great Britain, who has a rising star of their own in 17-year-old Jacob Mills.
Full Results:
- Egor Kornev – 47.55
50m: 22.66, 100m: 47.55 (24.89) - Andrei Minakov – 48.16
50m: 23.48, 100m: 48.16 (24.68) - Vladislav Grinev – 48.17
50m: 22.90, 100m: 48.17 (25.27) - Ivan Girev – 48.42
50m: 23.33, 100m: 48.42 (25.09) - Vasily Kukushkin – 48.42
50m: 22.77, 100m: 48.42 (25.65) - Kliment Kolesnikov – 48.50
50m: 22.71, 100m: 48.50 (25.79) - Dmitry Zhavoronkov – 48.70
50m: 23.36, 100m: 48.70 (25.34) - Roman Zhidkov – 49.40
50m: 23.68, 100m: 49.40 (25.70)
That back half from Minakov lowkey crazy
He’s back halfing his races way more than he used to
Thats cap, back in the days when he was breaking WJRs I remember plenty of 48s swims where he was even splitting 24 lows or out 23+ / back 24 mid.
Meh