RSCSC2017: winning streak of Rozaliya Nasretdinova

More sets of medals were contested today at the Russian Short Course Swimming Championships in Kazan. 

Women's 4x20m medley relay 

1. Saint Petersburg-1 (Nadezhda Vinyukova, Ekaterina Shapanikova, Daria Chikunova, Ksenia Kozyuk) – 1:49.91.

2. Krasnoyarsk Krai (Anastasia Osipenko, Sofya Lobova, Anna Ganus, Valeria Bodnya) – 1:50.21.

3. Novosibirsk Oblast-1 (Arina Surkova, Ekaterina Nikonova, Vitalina Simonova, Kira Volodina) – 1:50.96.

Women's 100m freestyle

This event entry list featured Veronika Andrusenko but she didn't compete after all. Nevertheless, the competition remained tough. Rozaliya Nasretdinova from Moscow grabbed the lead from the outset but then dropped it to Maria Kameneva from St Peterburg. 

It should be noted that being the runner-up, Rozaliya Nasretdinova still attained the qualification score and has all chances to gain her berth to the championships in Copenhagen in this event.

1. Maria Kameneva (Saint Petersburg - Orenburg Oblast) – 52.47.

2. Rozaliya Nasretdinova (Moscow-1) – 52.53.

3. Polina Lapshina (Sverdlovsk Oblast-1) – 53.28.

"I earned the second title in a row at this tournament, I struggle to find the words to describe my feelings. It is clear that I feel happy, but mostly it's fatigue. Up to some point, the "quarters" are even harder to swim than the long distance. In addition, the rivals were also strong. Rozaliya Nasretdinova put up a good fight which I won thanks to a quicker home touch. As a rule I love to spurt, but this season I've decided to work at the second half of the race. I guess it was a right decision," said the champion just after the event.

"I have two more events but they will be easier. I've reached my goals and from now on I will compete in a training mode, mostly for myself," she added.

Women's backstroke, 200m

Daria Ustinova from Yekaterinburg was the main favourite of the event, as she left not a single chance to the rest of the swimmers, confidently advancing to the semifinals from the first place. Neither was there any intrigue in the finals, as Daria finished with a great advantage over the rivals and secured her berth at the Europeans.

1. Daria K Ustinova (Sverdlovsk Oblast-1) – 2:02.53.

2. Anastasia Avdeeva (Vladimir Oblast) – 2:04.97.

3. Polina Egorova (Republic of Bashkortostan) – 2:05.35.

"It all went even better than I had expected. I didn't train specially for the short course championships so I didn't think I would swim so fast. But I did and I qualified. Great!" Daria said after her performance.

She also noted that the rivalry with her namesake is nothing more than fun fact:

"We've been competing together for a long time, since "Vesely Delfin". The most fun is at the 200m events where we swim side by side. No trouble or offense - it is just fun!"

Men's 200m breaststroke

1. Mikhail Dorinov (Nizhny Novgorod Oblast) – 2:02.42.

2. Ilya Khomenko (Rostov Oblast-1) – 2:03.76.

3. Rustam Gadirov (Omsk Oblast) – 2:05.46.

"I am pleased with the result! Qualification points are gained, and the personal record is also beaten. That means I did good. I trained a lot for this tournament and managed to accomplish everything. Now it's time to get ready for the european championships. Some say that the short course tournaments are not so important but I wouldn't agree with that. I've got to do well at the both events," shared his thoughts Mikhail.

Women's 50m butterfly

Gold medallist of the butterfly event was in a medal hunt just 20 minutes earlier in the 100m event, But it didn't stop her from taking a crown in the 50m event as well.

1. Rozaliya Nasretdinova (Moscow-1) – 25.79.

2. Svetlana Chimrova (Moscow-1) – 25.93.

3. Ekaterina Shapanikova (Saint Petersburg-1) – 25.99.

Rozaliya commented on her performance right after the second race:

I was left behind by a few hundredth previously but managed to pull myself together and win. After all, the qualifications are the most important, and I gained it: Both in the 50m and 100m. I wouldn't hide that I'm a bit frustrated to have finished second int he 100m freestyle - I took the lead and finally lost by 5 hundredths. Didn't have enough technique and attentiveness. Maria did well, she joined the competition and clawed her victory. For my part, I need to analyze what's happened and not to repeat this mistake."

I have relatives in Kazan, so it was a pleasure to compete in Kazan. I've gor my support group here. It gives motivation, force, emotions and power," she added.