Russia’s Kliment Kolesnikov Swims 23.90 To Take Over 50 Backstroke World Rankings

2025 RUSSIAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• April 13-18, 2025
• Kazan, Russia
• LCM (50 meters)
• Meet Central
• Live Results
• Livestream

The 2025 Russian Swimming Championships continued 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 50 backstroke final was a clear highlight, where we saw some of the top times swum in the world so far this season.

After winning the 100 back on Monday with a 52.04, Olympic silver medalist Kliment Kolesnikov made it 2-for-2 in topping the world rankings. He clocked 23.90 in the 50 back final, surpassing Shaine Casas‘ previous world-leading time of 24.23 from the Westmont Pro Swim Series early last month.

Pavel Samusenko finished 2nd behind Kolesnikov in tonight’s final, notching 24.01, while Miron Lifintsev placed 3rd with a time of 24.51. Samusenko’s 24.01 now ranks him as the second-fastest man in the world this season. It also marks his third consecutive personal best in the event over the past two days, improving from 24.26 in the heats and 24.25 in the semifinals. Lifintsev’s 24.51 is slightly slower than his 24.40 from the semifinals on Tuesday.

With their swims, both Kolesnikov and Samusenko qualified for the World Championships in the event.

Kolesnikov ranked #1 in the world last year in the event with a time of 23.90, and he has now matched that exact time, with three months still to go before the World Championships in Singapore.

The 24-year-old holds the world record in the 50 back , set at the 2023 Russian Cup. There, Kolesnikov touched the wall in 23.55, shaving 0.16 off the previous global standard of 23.71, set by American Hunter Armstrong that April. Kolesnikov’s previous best of 23.80 from the 2021 European Championships was the world record before Armstrong’s performance.

Current World Rankings:

1. Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS) — 23.90 (4/16)*
2. Pavel Samusenko (RUS) — 24.01 (4/16)
3. Shaine Casas (USA) – 24.23 (3/6)
4. Miron Lifintsev (RUS) – 24.40 (4/15)
5. Ji-hwan Yoon (KOR) – 24.48 (3/27)

On the international stage, Kolesnikov is best known for winning two individual medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He earned silver in the 100 back final with a then-personal best of 52.00—a time he later lowered to 51.82 at the Russian Cup in July 2023. That performance ranks him as the second-fastest performer in history in the event, trailing only Thomas Ceccon of Italy.

Kolesnikov also claimed bronze in the 100 free in Tokyo, finishing in 47.44 after posting a blistering 47.11 in the semifinals—a time that still would have earned bronze behind Caeleb Dressel (47.02) and Kyle Chalmers (47.08).

Kolesnikov has not competed internationally in long course meters since those Games due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Although Russia sent 28 swimmers to the 2024 World Short Course Championships in Budapest under a neutral flag, Kolesnikov did not participate. At the time, he stated he felt uncomfortable competing as a neutral athlete, despite being expected to meet AQUA’s eligibility requirements.

However, in an interview with Metaratings.ru in early January, a Russian sports publication, Kolesnikov revealed that his perspective has since shifted, influenced in part by conversations and feedback from his teammates.

“Before our swimmers competed at the World Championships in Budapest, my position on the neutral status was neutral,” Kolesnikov said. “I expressed dissatisfaction with the existing set of rules for participation in competitions. But when the guys returned from the World Championships, I heard from them more than once that it would be very good if the whole team, including me, participated in the competitions.

“After that, I started thinking that it wouldn’t be very good for me to sit here while the entire team competes in Singapore and wins medals. I could also contribute to this: both in the relay and in individual events. I repeat: my plans now include preparing for Singapore. We’ll see how things go from here.”