Anastasiia Kirpichnikova Slices Three Seconds Off Russian Record In 800 Free

2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

Anastasiia Kirpichnikova produced a three-second best time in the preliminaries of the women’s 800 freestyle during the penultimate heats session in Tokyo, qualifying for the final and smashing her Russian Record.

Kirpichnikova closed in 29.67 over the final 50 meters to out-touch Australian Ariarne Titmus and win the third heat in 8:18.77, lowering her National Record of 8:21.86 set at the European Championships in May.

Split Comparison

Kirpichnikova, 2021 Euros Kirpichnikova, 2021 Olympics
29.55 29.19
1:00.80 (31.25) 1:00.18 (30.99)
1:32.47 (31.67) 1:31.42 (31.24)
2:03.93 (31.46) 2:02.87 (31.45)
2:35.58 (31.65) 2:34.39 (31.52)
3:07.10 (31.52) 3:06.08 (31.69)
3:38.78 (31.68) 3:37.70 (31.62)
4:10.38 (31.60) 4:09.25 (31.55)
4:42.15 (31.77) 4:40.74 (31.49)
5:13.59 (31.44) 5:12.23 (31.49)
5:45.32 (31.73) 5:43.63 (31.40)
6:16.89 (31.57) 6:15.04 (31.41)
6:48.59 (31.70) 6:46.39 (31.35)
7:20.16 (31.57) 7:17.85 (31.46)
7:51.64 (31.48) 7:49.10 (31.25)
8:21.86 (30.22) 8:18.77 (29.67)

Kirpichnikova entered the all-time top-20 performers list for about 10 minutes, overtaking France’s Laure Manaudou for 20th (8:18.80), but 15-year-old American Katie Grimes dropped a time of 8:17.05 in the very next heat, bumping Kirpichnikova down to 21st in history.

Prior to lowering her National Record at Euros, Kirpichnikova held the previous record at 8:22.65 from December 2020.

Kirpichnikova 800 Free Progression

  • 2017 – 8:31.12
  • 2018 – 8:39.80
  • 2019 – 8:34.53
  • 2020 – 8:22.65
  • 2021 – 8:18.77

The 21-year-old won silver in the 800 free at those European Championships two months in Budapest, and did the same in the 1500 free and added a bronze in the mixed 4×200 free relay.

This being her Olympic debut, Kirpichnikova has now reset two Russian Records in Tokyo, also doing so in the 1500 free a few days ago (15:50.22 in the prelims, ultimately placing seventh in the final).

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Bobo Gigi
2 years ago

Congrats to Anastasia for making both 800 free and 1500 free finals.

Last edited 2 years ago by Bobo Gigi
Bobo Gigi
2 years ago

MA should train with Lucas who would fix his endurance and freestyle problems at the end of his 200 IM.

Last edited 2 years ago by Bobo Gigi
Bobo Gigi
2 years ago

Philippe Lucas’ magic once again.comment image

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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