Kornev’s 21.06, Chikunova’s 2:20.59 200 Breast Highlight Day 4 of Russian National Championships

2026 RUSSIAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• June 6-11, 2026
• Kazan, Russia
• LCM (50 meters)
• Meet Central
• Live Results
• Days 1-3 Recap

Day 4 of the Russian Swimming Championships featured yet another historical 50 freestyle swim from Egor Kornev, who blasted a 21.06, to move him up to the 5th fastest performer all-time in the event.

In the semifinals, Kornev popped an already blistering 21.12, which put him just behind Ben Proud‘s 21.11. That time rebreaks the Russian Record he set in the semifinals, which initially bested Vladimir Morozov‘s 2019 record mark of 21.27. Kornex now sits just two hundredths of a second off of Caeleb Dressel‘s 21.04, which stands as the 4th fastest performer of all time.

All-Time Performers, Men’s 50 Freestyle (LCM)

1. Cameron McEvoy (AUS), 20.88 – 2026 China Open
2. Cesar Cielo (BRA), 20.91 – 2009 Brazilian Nationals
3. Frederick Bousquet (FRA), 20.94 – 2009 French Nationals
4. Caeleb Dressel (USA), 21.04 – 2019 World Championships
5. Egor Kornev (RUS), 21.06 – 2026 Russian Swimming Championships
6. Ben Proud (GBR), 21.11 – 2018 European Championships
7. Ashley Callus (AUS) / Florent Manaudou (FRA), 21.19 – 2009 AIS Invitational / 2015 World Championships
8. –
9. George Bovell (TRI), 21.20 – 2009 World Championships
10. Alain Bernard (FRA), 21.23 – 2009 French Nationals

Despite the historic swim, he still sits behind Cam McEvoy as the 2nd-fastest performer in the event this season, given McEvoy’s World Record swim of 20.88 at the China Open.

• Read more about Kornev’s 21.06 50 Free

As for the other finals contested on day 4,In the women’s 200 breast Evgeniia Chikunova was uncontested, surging to a near five second win in 2:20.59, making her the 2nd fastest performer in the world this season, only trailing Great Britain’s Angharad Evans‘ 2:19.70. Though a solid time and win, Chikunova still sits over three seconds off her own World Record in the event of 2:17.55, which she swam at the 2023 Russian National Championships.

Roman Shevlyakov took the win in the men’s 100 fly in a final that saw all eight finalists touch under 52 seconds, with Shevlyakov stopping the clock in 51.15, less than a tenth faster than Mikhail Antipov in 51.24, and just over two tenths better than Andrei Minakov in 51.37. That time for Shevlyakov still sits outside his own Russian record of 50.70, set in Kazan last year.

That performance moves Shevlyakov up to 11th in the world this season, surpassing Josh Liendo‘s 51.17 from the Fort Lauderdale Open.

Kirill Prigoda managed to take the men’s 200 breaststroke win by over a second, in 2:08.30, catapulting him to the 3rd-fastest performer in the world this season. In the same race, Alexander Zigalov finished 2nd in 2:09.60, moving him up to 14th in the world this season thus far.

Alexey Tkachev also found himself moving up in the world ranking on day 4, winning the 200 backstroke in 1:55.76, the only swimmer in the final to crack 1:56, slotting him inside the top 10 in the world this season at 1:55.76. That time marks a four-hundredths improvement on his career best, set at the 2024 Russian Championships in 1:55.80.

The women’s 200 back saw a battle for the top spot, as Daria Zarubenkova nabbed the win in 2:10.07, less than a half second ahead of Renata Gianullina in 2:10.52. That swim just squeaked her inside of the top 25 performers in the world this season at 24th, just ahead of Great Britain’s Honey Osrin in 2:10.12.

Rounding out the individual finals of Day 4 was Ilya Borodin, taking a commanding win in the men’s 400 IM, clocking 4:10.30, nearly six seconds faster than Maxim Stupin at 4:16.16. With that time, Borodin moved up to 9th in the world.

Top Seeds from Day 4 Semis

• Women’s 100 Free: Daria Klepikova – 53.57
• Women’s 200 Fly: Victoria Tokareva – 2:13.44