Evgenii Somov Blasts 58.72 100 Breast For New Russian Record, First Time Sub-1:00

2024 SPEEDO ATLANTA CLASSIC

Evgenii Somov unleashed a monstrous swim in the prelims of the men’s 100 breaststroke on Thursday morning at the Atlanta Classic, stunningly breaking the Russian Record.

Entering the competition having never broken 1:00, Somov fired off a time of 58.72 this morning, cracking Anton Chupkov‘s Russian Record of 58.83 established in 2020.

A former star at the University of Louisville, Somov dismantled his previous best of 1:00.11 set at the 2021 Russian Championships. He only has a handful of long course swims on record over the last few years—at the beginning of March, he logged a time of 1:00.83 at the California/Nevada Sectionals, which represented his season-best coming into this week.

Somov closed well in setting his previous best time three years ago, but was even faster on Thursday—and quicker than Chupkov, who is known for his closing ability—as he rocketed back in 30.68.

Split Comparison

Chupkov, Old Record Somov, Old PB
Somov, New Record
27.97 29.01 28.03
58.83 (30.86) 1:00.11 (31.10) 58.72 (30.68)

The 25-year-old is representing the California-based club Albany Armada Aquatics.

A five-time ACC champion in the 100 breast during his time at Louisville, Somov slots into #5 in the world rankings for the 2023-24 season.

2023-2024 LCM Men 100 Breast

HaiyangCHN
QIN
10/06
57.69
2Adam
PEATY
GBR57.9404/02
3 Nic
FINK
USA58.5702/12
4Arno
KAMMINGA
NED58.6810/20
5Evgenii
Somov
RUS58.7205/16
View Top 31»

Entering tonight’s final in Atlanta, Somov is nearly three seconds clear of the field, with Henry Bethel sitting 2nd at 1:01.42.

RACE VIDEO

Courtesy of @swimcoverage on X

Somov is fast enough to compete at the Paris Olympics—he’s never qualified for the Games with Russian breaststroke dominated by Chupkov and Kirill Prigoda—but will need to apply for neutral status with World Aquatics in order to do so.

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Booter
5 months ago

He’s a really good guy.

Swim Alchemist
5 months ago

Shows that sometimes sprinters need to take it out “slow” (for them!).

Mclovineta
5 months ago

That has to be one of the fastest backhalfs ever. 30’68 is moving

Sw E mmerX
5 months ago

BAN HIM FROM PARIS

Emojilo
Reply to  Sw E mmerX
5 months ago

He’s been in the US for a decade at this point, go home boomer

CELL
Reply to  Sw E mmerX
5 months ago

Lmao why would they do that

Beginner Swimmer at 25
5 months ago

Glad a Russian swimmer can find safety and success in America. Nobody’s swim career has to be tied to the war 👍

PFA
5 months ago

Did not have Somov just dropping nearly 2 seconds and smashing the Russian record in prelims. Big swim for him hope he’ll be able to compete in Paris with this new development

Last edited 5 months ago by PFA
Pacific Whirl
5 months ago

Fast

25Back
5 months ago

Is he training with a pro group out in CA? Crazy if he’s just self-training and drops a 58.7

CELL
Reply to  25Back
5 months ago

He’s not with a pro group

Swimmie1
Reply to  25Back
5 months ago

He’s not with a pro group. He’s coaching age groupers at Albany Armada and training primarily with Coach Piankhi Gibson. Quite an accomplishment for the pair.

MD13
Reply to  Swimmie1
5 months ago

Piankhi Gibson is nothing more than a fraud and a thief. I had the unfortunate part of working with him. I wish nothing but the best for Ev. I just pray Gibson doesn’t ruin his career like he has to his other swimmers.

Higuy24
Reply to  MD13
5 months ago

Can you elaborate?

MD13
Reply to  Higuy24
4 months ago

First of all he would constantly be late on his payments or not pay his staff at all. DMing top swimmers on other teams to either join his team or try his programs to the point that he even got a warning from USA Swimming. The athletes that he was able to coerce he would do his “special” training but a lot of them come out with bad shoulder injuries. I had to get out of there.

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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