Double Olympic medalist Kliment Kolesnikov won Russia’s 2024 Silver Doe sports award. It’s the fourth time the world record holder earned the annual honor.
The Russian backstroker accepted his award on February 26 at the Rossiya Segodnya International Multimedia Press Center in Moscow. Each year, Russian sports journalists chose a male and a female Silver Doe recipient from a pool of ten Russian athletes from the previous year. Chess player Anastasia Bodnaruk won the 2024 Silver Doe on the women’s side.
I express my sincere gratitude to everyone who supported me with their voice,” Koleskinov said. “It is especially valuable that the professional community of sports journalists recognizes my achievements.”
Kolesnikov previously won this award in 2018, 2022, and 2023.
The award comes at a pivotal point in Kolesnikov’s career. After not competing internationally since 2021 (but still shining at national competitions), the 24-year-old announced he intends to compete at this year’s World Championships and at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He said that his attitude towards competing under the neutral flag has shifted after watching his teammates compete at the 2024 Short Course Worlds in Budapest.
Kolesnikov’s attitude shift mirrors that of his national swimming federation, who also said they’re okay with the label.
Highlights of Kolesnikov’s 2024 include capturing the short course national titles in his premiere events, the 50 and 100 back. He boasts Olympic medals from the Tokyo Olympics in the 100 free (bronze) and 100 back (silver), and he’s the current SCM 50 backstroke world record holder.
