“It was important for Zhenya to swim faster than King.
She wanted to show what they are without us.
That she would be world champion if she competed in Budapest.
After all, she was really looking forward to this tournament, and when we were so “bumped”, it was a tragedy for her, like for all athletes, ”Novozhilova said in an interview with RT.
According to her, while Chikunova, this fact "added sports anger."
“Zhenya could swim faster if she had decent competition at the finish line.
When someone breathes in your back, reserve forces turn on.
I think another half a second, or maybe a second, she could throw off the result, ”she said.
Earlier, Novozhilova said that Chikunova was able to break the world record in the 200-meter breaststroke.