2021 RUSSIAN NATIONAL SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- April 3-9, 2021
- Palace of Water Sports, Kazan, Russia
- Prelims: 9:00 am local/2:00 am Eastern, Finals: 6:00 pm local/11:00 am Eastern
- LCM (50m)
- Russian Olympic Qualification Procedures
- Meet Central
- Start Lists/Results
- Live Stream (YouTube channel)
After qualifying for his first Olympic team in the 100 backstroke on Monday night, Kliment Kolesnikov kept the ball rolling on Tuesday morning in the fourth prelim session at the Russian Olympic Trials in a big way.
The 20-year-old dropped a sizeable best time of 47.70 to lead the men’s 100 free heats, taking out his previous PB of 48.04 and launching into second in the world rankings this season.
Kolesnikov had previously been 48.04 at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, holding a career-best relay leg of 47.39 from the 2018 Euros, and now sits in the #2 spot behind countryman Andrei Minakov (47.57) in 2020-21.
Minakov, meanwhile, appears to have a lot left in the tank after negative-splitting the prelims, recording 50 splits of 24.34/24.11 to qualify third overall in 48.45. 24.11 is one of, if not the, fastest back-50 legs of all-time.
Russian Record holder Vladislav Grinev qualified second in 48.09, putting him fifth in the world this season. A total of seven men broke 49 seconds.
Vladimir Morozov, who finished ninth in the 100 free at the 2016 Olympic Games, qualified eighth for the semi-finals in 49.01.
2020-2021 LCM Men 100 Free
Dressel
47.02
| 2 | Kyle Chalmers | AUS | 47.08 | 07/29 |
| 3 | Kliment Kolesnikov | RUS | 47.11 | 07/27 |
| 4 | David Popovici | ROU | 47.30 | 07/08 |
| 5 | Alessandro Miressi | ITA | 47.45 | 05/19 |
OTHER EVENTS
- 24-year-old Svetlana Chimrova picked up the top seed in the women’s 200 fly prelims in 2:13.56, followed by Anastasia Markova (2:14.68) and Aleksandra Sabitova (2:14.69). Chimrova holds the National Record of 2:07.33 from 2018.
- Reigning two-time world champion Anton Chupkov built his way through the men’s 200 breaststroke heats, out in a smooth 1:04.33 before coming home in 1:05.65 to qualify first for the semis by over a second in 2:09.98. The world record holder at 2:06.12, Chupkov ranks fourth in the world this season (2:07.32). Kirill Prigoda, the winner of the 100 breast earlier and the fifth-fastest swimmer this season, took second in 2:11.07. 2016 Olympic gold medalist in this event Dmitriy Balandin of Kazakhstan was fourth in 2:11.61.
- Alexander Egorov nearly even-split the men’s 800 free prelims (3:59.8/4:01.1) en route to qualifying first for the final by over three seconds in 8:00.95. Egorov qualified for his first Olympic team on Day 1 of the competition in the 400 free, and owns a best time of 7:52.04 in the 800, over two seconds under the FINA ‘A’ cut (7:54.31). Anton Nikitin (8:04.07) and Ilya Druzhinin (8:06.15) sit second and third. Ilia Sibirtsev, the 2019 World Junior Championship silver medalist in this event, ranks fourth in 8:06.50, with his best time sitting down at 7:48.05.
Did Morozov not even swim the 100? I know he sucked on the relay, but still.
49.01 for eighth. Just added it in.
Rylov, Kolesnikov, Minakov and then Grinev? Possible world record breaking relay if they all go best times and with USA in the next lane over.
Dangerous looking team, strong arguments they are favourites.
USA issue for me is picking the correct 4 guys to perform on the day in correct order, not they don’t have the talent to win.
Unfortunately in the Olympic schedule the 100 backstroke SF is 15 minutes before the final of the 4x100fr. I don’t think Kolesnikov will do it.
Hadn’t thought of that…
Kolesnikov and rylov can go easy on 100 backup and qualify
And the time might be more than 15 minutes due to covid protocols. Also the podium for the 3 final of the day
That might also be the reason why Rylov scratched this event. Really brutal schedule. It’s a pity we might not see him and Kolesnikov in the relay.
Even if Morozov doesn’t make it, they now have three men under 47.7 flat start, plus Rylov (47.0 split) and the improving youngsters Shchegolev and Girev…
Russia look as likely to win both freestyle relays as the USA at this point. We’ll see what US trials bring.
Morozov looked like he took it easy the last 15m, either that or he died really hard. Hopefully he can go 48 low and make the team.
The Russians are a lock for a 3.09 low, the US will need its A game.
Personally, GBR is the only team I can see beating the USA in the medley relay, but I also think we’re more likely to finish fourth than Russia. Some interesting dynamics at play. USA solid enough favourites for me, even with the vulnerable looking breaststroke leg.
No chance. Caleb, Ryan, Rooney, and Apple are all below 47.7 flat start, and there will be several others.
Dont know if it just me, but Russia seem to manage to underperform in the relays on the World and Olympic stage…we have predicted them many times to win medals, but they don’t perform their best on the day.
I don’t think they underperformed at Gwangju but I think expectations will be higher this time.
Surprised that Rylov did not swim it
Rylov swam a 48.25 on the first day – good enough for 4×100 in Japan
Maybe, but Chchtegolev was also 48.28 on the first day, and Minakov, Kolesnikov, Grinev and Girev are certainly no slouch.
But Rylov will already be at the olympics in the backstrokes and they know his 100 free is good. Kinda like how Phelps never swam the 100 outside of prelims at trials but was always on the 4×100 relay. He’s already there and capable so they’ll most likely choose him over bringing a relay-only guy
I think Rylov’s reputation as a relay performer means he is on it.
He split 47.0 in Gwangju.
24.11 should be the fastest. Lezak was 21.50-24.56 and Scott 21.82-24.32 in the fastest relay splits ever.
No but that’s the fastest second 50 split in history. Overtaking phelps time by .09
Great swim by Kolesnikov, but you’d think he’d have learned his lesson after the 100 back: you don’t need to be so extravagant in the heats.
Maybe he wants to test swimming fast in the morning?That could be an explanation.
What lesson exactly? Do you have any proof that swimming fast in prelims/semifinal had anything to do with him not beating Rylov in the final?