Strongest Athletes Swimming Cup
- November 20-23, 2025
- Minsk, Belarus
- Short Course Meters (25 meters)
- Live Results
With the specter of not being allowed into Poland for the 2025 European Short Course Swimming Championships in less than two weeks, Russia has sent a team of its top swimmers to the “Strongest Athletes Swimming Cup” in Minsk, Belarus this weekend – the country’s closest political ally.
The breaststroke events were the highlights of the first two days of competition. On the men’s side, Russian Kirill Prigoda outraced the World Record holder Ilya Shymanovich of Belarus 55.71 to 55.92.
Prigoda, 30, swam a lifetime best in long course earlier this year (58.53) and just-missed his lifetime best in short course at the Russian Championships two weeks ago by .02 seconds (55.51 vs. 55.49).
On the women’s side, the long course World Record holder Evgeniia Chikunova cruised to a win in the 200 breaststroke in 2:17.94, about six-tenths slower than her time from two weeks ago.
The meet also saw participants from Hungary (Henrietta Fangli) and South Africa (teenagers Matthew Caldwell and Scarlett Le Roux), countries that have frequently supported alternative sporting events while Russia and Belarus have been limited in international racing opportunities.
Other Days 1 & 2 Highlights:
- Pavel Samusenko won the men’s 50 back in 22.62 ahead of Russia’s newest backstroke talent Miron Lifintsev, who was 2nd in 23.12.
- In the women’s 200 fly, Anastasiya Kuliashova broke the Belarusian National Record in the 200 fly, finishing in 2:10.00. Her previous best of 2:12.25 was done almost a year ago at the Belarus Open Championships. The previous National Record of 2:11.59 was set by Anastasiya Shkurdai during the inaugural season of the International Swimming League in 2019.
