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 women’s 200 breaststroke final saw a new world leader emerge.
Evgeniia Chikunova completed her sweep of the breast events with a win in the 200, posting a new world-leading time of 2:20.36. She took over the top spot from Team Great Britain’s Angharad Evans, who clocked 2:21.86 en route to gold at the British World Championship Trials less than one day ago.
Chikunova recorded splits of 32.89 and 36.02 to hit the 100 at 1:08.91, before powering through the final two 50s with splits of 35.84 and 35.61. The 20-year-old’s world record remains the 2:17.55 she set at this same meet two years ago. Earlier this week, she also won both the 50 (30.72) and 100 (1:06.13) in season-best times.
Notably, Yulia Efimova, the second-fastest Russian performer in history with a personal best of 2:19.41, took it too easy in the morning session, missing the ‘A’ final in 9th with a time of 2:32.51. This performance mirrored her 2015 World Championships experience, where, as the defending champion and favorite, she failed to make it out of the prelims. She ultimately scratched tonight’s ‘B’ final.
Although the Russian and Belarusian federations remain officially suspended due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian sporting organizations, Russian athletes will still be permitted to compete under a neutral flag at the World Championships in Singapore—just as they did at the Short Course Worlds in December—provided they meet the established guidelines for athlete participation during times of conflict.
Chikunova’s qualification could set up an exciting showdown between her and American Kate Douglass in this event, which has the potential to become one of the most anticipated races at the World Championships in July. Chikunova holds the long-course world record at 2:17.55, while Douglass is the Olympic gold medalist from Paris. Although Douglass still needs to qualify, that is unlikely to be a problem at the U.S. World Trials in early June.
Notably, Chikunova’s season-best 200 breast time of 2:18.98 last year was faster than the winning time in Paris, where Douglass claimed gold with a time of 2:19.24.
Most recently, at the Short Course World Championships in Budapest last December, Douglass defeated Chikunova by more than two and a half seconds in the 200 breast and set a new world record. However, things are expected to be much closer in the long course pool.
Current World Rankings:
- Evgeniia Chikunova (RUS) — 2:20.36 (4/18)*
- Angharad Evans (GBR) – 2:21.86 (4/17)
- Kate Douglass (USA) – 2:22.60 (3/8)
- Rebecca Meder (RSA) – 2:23.61 (4/11)
- Francesca Fangio (ITA) – 2:23.67 (4/14)
It would be absolutely nuts to see a mid 2:17 in Singapore. Her WR was the most beautiful breastroke I’ve ever seen
I did not know Efimova was still active
Last year’s neutral status athlete drama must have been so hard for her, the Russian media and people bashed her over and over again, that’s probably why she added last year’s winning time. Still withouth Smith and Schouten, it’s gonna be an epic 2-way battle between her and Douglass.
why did they bash her? she didnt seek neutral status for the olympics. do you mean efimova?
Looking at the rankings I think Evan’s may have something to say about that 2 way battle.