Anastasia Fesikova
Anastasia Fesikova, formerly Zueva, is a multi-time Russian Olympian. Born May 8, 1990 Fesikova won a silver medal in the 200-meter backstroke at the London Olympics. She got married soon after, and took a long break from the sport, giving birth to her first child in 2014. Fesikova made her return at the 2015 World Championships, where she finaled in the 100-meter backstroke. Zueva married fellow Russian swimmer Sergey Fesikova and gave birth to her first child in 2014
Early career
Fesikova has been around the international swimming scene for a decade, making her first appearance at the 2006 European Championships. She qualified for her first World Championships in 2007, where she advanced to the championship final and came in 7th in addition to 5th in the 4×100-meter medley relay. She made big strides in 2008, winning gold in both the 50 and 100-meter backstroke, and silver in the 200-meter back. Over the next few years Fesikova suffered a back injury.
2008 Beijing Olympics
Fesikova qualified for her first Olympic Games in 2008, where she travelled to Beijing to swim the 100-meter backstroke. During the preliminary heats of the 100-meter back, Fesikova set and held the Olympic Record in the event for just one heat.
2009 World Records
At the 2009 Russian Championships Fesikova broke the World Record in the 50-meter back twice — in prelims and the semi-finals. In June of 2009 FINA ruled that the swims would not be recognized as World Records. That year she broke the long course World Record three times, but none were recognized as official World Records due to the swim suit issues and lack of drug tests. She went on to win double silver at the 2009 World Championships in the 100 and 200 back that year.
2011 World Championships
In Shanghai Fesikova won her first world title in the 50 back (27.79) as well as defended her silver medal in the 100 (59.06).
2012 London Olympics
In 2012 Fesikova qualified for her second Olympic Games, and although she initially focused on the 100-meter back. Fesikova advanced to the championship final in the 200-meter back, and earned her first Olympic medal when she won a silver medal in the event.
2015 World Championships
After taking years away from the pool to raise her first child, Fesikova returned to her first major international competition since London. She qualified for the 2015 World Championships in Kazan in the 50 and 100-meter back, where she advanced to the semi-finals in both events.
In the 50, Fesikova finished 9th in the semi’s, just .10 away from advancing to the championship final. She made her comeback however in the 100-meter back, this time advancing to the championship final. Fesikova took out the first 50 meters relaxed, and when she turned at the 50-meter mark, she took off and had an excellent last 50 meters to finish 6th place in the event.
2016 Rio Olympics
Competing at her 3rd Olympics, Anastasia missed out the final heat of both the 100 and 200 backstroke, finishing 9th in the 100 (59.68) and 11th in the 200 (2:09.12). She led off Russia’s 4×100 medley relay (59.49) in what turned out to be an exceedingly close race for 2nd behind the US, and though Russia finished 6th, they were just .66 and .65 back from silver and bronze.
2017 World Championships
In the 100m backstroke, Fesikova swam a 58.83 in the finals to place fifth.
Fesikova led off Russia’s 4x100m medley relay with a 58.96 to help teammates Yuliya Efimovca, Svetlana Chimrova and Veronika Popova win the silver medal behind the US. The foursome set a new European Record with a time of 3:53.38.
2018 European Championships
Fesikova earned 3 medals in Glasgow, including gold in the 100 back in a personal best of 59.19, gold in the 4×100 medley relay in a new championships record time of 3:54.22, and silver in the 50 back (27.31).
