2020 Russian Swimming Championship kicked off in Kazan

Today, on October 25, the Russian Swimming Championship (50m) started at the Aquatics Palace in Kazan.

During the morning programme, Arina Baikova (Latvia), a FINA Development Centre scholarship holder, swam her first event – 100m backstroke with the result: 1:05.71.

'Arina opened the Russian championship with 100m backstroke. There was a slight hitch during the start, and this affected the result. But the event was chosen as a warm-up one, so that the athlete felt the competitive spirit, overcame the excitement and was ready to compete in the following days, ' said Gulnara Garipova, head coach of the FINA Development Centre.

At the opening ceremony, the participants of the Russian Swimming Championship were greeted by the Minister of Sports of the Republic of Tatarstan Vladimir Leonov, President of the All-Russian Swimming Federation, four-time Olympic champion Vladimir Salnikov, Acting Rector of the Volga State Academy of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism Rafis Burganov. Vladimir Salnikov thanked organisers for staging the competition, the athletes and judges for participation despite the difficult conditions of this year, wished the swimmers good results and light water.

In the evening programme of the championship, medals were awarded in the following events: 400m freestyle (men), 400m individual medley (women), as well as relay races - 4x100m freestyle (men) and 4x200m freestyle (women).

The championship will run until October 30.