The successful performance of Evgenia Chikunova at the Friendship Games in Kazan did not come as a surprise to those who closely follow swimming.

Back in 2019, during the national championship, the young athlete beat Yulia Efimova in the 200-meter breaststroke and could force her out of the national team at the World Championships, but by decision of the coaches she went to junior starts.

Two years later, at the Tokyo Olympics, Chikunova twice became fourth, and at a distance of 200 meters from the medal, she was separated by an insignificant 0.04 seconds.

But that failure only tempered the athlete - from the debutante of major tournaments, she gradually turns into a mature athlete beyond her years.

The European Short Course Championship, which took place a few months after the Games, the Russian won with a youth world record.

Those competitions, by the way, were also held in Kazan.

Great hopes were placed on the 2022 World Cup, but for obvious reasons, this tournament was held without a Russian team.

Laurels in the 200-meter race there went to the American Lilly King, although she showed a frankly modest result - 2:22.41.

Preparing for the tournament in Kazan, Chikunova focused on this time and set herself the goal of surpassing it: "To understand who we lost."

“I saw the results of the World Cup.

I was upset by how they swim, because 2 minutes 22 seconds - I don’t know what time it is.

I understand that the post-Olympic season, but ... There were chances for prizes.

I would go to this and tune in to gold.

I interrupted this time from the World Cup, and this adds motivation to my further preparation, ”Match TV quotes the words of the athlete.

In turn, coach Evgenia Vitta Novozhilova told RT that it was extremely important for her pupil to surpass King's result. 

“She wanted to show what they are without us.

That she would be world champion if she competed in Budapest.

After all, Zhenya was really looking forward to this tournament, and when we were so “bumped”, it was a tragedy for her, as well as for all athletes.

But this added sports anger, ”said the specialist.

According to her, Chikunova could swim even faster if the rivals were in serious competition at the finish line.

According to her, the level of readiness allowed to drop another half a second or even a second from the result.

At the same time, there are reserves: this season Chikunova will try to break the world record.

It is now owned by South African Tatiana Schoonmaker and is 2:18.95.

“Theoretically, this is possible, how it will turn out in practice - I will not guess.

We are preparing and we will try.

It is important that everything works out correctly, so that the stars converge and do not interfere with the disease.

But we would like to compete for this result.

Today, this is the only way we can show the world what we are capable of.

I know for sure that our performances are being followed abroad.

After Zhenya's victory, I received congratulatory messages from some foreign specialists.

Well, let them look and envy, ”Novozhilova said.

Chikunova herself also admitted that she was acutely worried about the removal of the Russian team from the world championship.

"Very disappointing.

It is obvious.

Already from the fact that we didn’t go, it’s very disappointing.

It didn't work out well for us.

Words cannot describe how insulting and painful: such starts are without our entire team, ”said the swimmer.

Evgenia also stressed that the goal of any athlete is to win the World Championship or the Olympics.

In her opinion, winning emotions cannot be replaced by prize money, although, of course, it is pleasant that they will be paid at domestic Russian competitions, which are designed to replace international competitions.

“I think we should be grateful for the very support.

What is important here is that we will be supported and our work will be appreciated.

A result is required of us, and we are trying to show it, for which, in principle, we are training, ”said Chikunova.

At the same time, the Olympic diving champion and RT columnist Elena Vaitsekhovskaya believes that Evgenia's result, although it is the best in the world this season, is working, but nothing more.

She recalled that at the last four Olympics, since 2008, the winners swam faster.

“Chikunova surpassed the winning time of the American Lilly King in Kazan at the recent World Championships in Budapest, but I would moderate my enthusiasm a little about this.

King's time (2:22.41) suggests rather that she simply did not need to swim faster.

A year ago, at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, she showed 2:19.92 at this distance and was second - she lost to the South African Skumaker, who slapped the world record by swimming the 200 m breaststroke in 2:18.95.

It was at this time that I would be guided, if in the future I tune in to something serious, ”Vaitsekhovskaya wrote in her Telegram channel.