Zhilkin, Temnikova Bring Russian Olympic Roster To 22 With One Day Remaining

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)

Andrey Zhilkin and Maria Temnikova added their names to Russia’s Olympic roster on the penultimate day of the Trials in Kazan, while four others added a new event to their Tokyo schedule.

The 26-year-old Zhilkin won the men’s 200 IM in a new Russian Record of 1:57.50, earning him his first Olympic berth.

Ilya Borodin was the runner-up in that race, getting under the FINA ‘A’ cut by two-tenths in 1:59.35 to add the 200 IM to his schedule after qualifying in the 400 IM earlier.

Temnikova upset reigning world champion Yuliya Efimova in taking second in the women’s 200 breaststroke, hitting a personal best time of 2:22.76 to take second to Evgeniia Chikunova (2:21.63). Like Zhilkin, this will be Temnikova’s first Olympic appearance.

For more on Efimova missing the team in the 200 breast, the three-time world champion and 2016 Olympic silver medalist in the event, click here.

Chikunova adds a second event to her lineup after winning the 100 breast earlier, where Efimova qualified for a fourth Olympics in second place.

Also qualifying in a new event on the day was Evgeny Rylov in the men’s 200 backstroke (setting a new European Record in the process), and Maria Kameneva in the women’s 100 freestyle. Both swimmers had already qualified in their respective 100 back races.

RUSSIAN OLYMPIC ROSTER (THRU DAY 6)