Russian diver Evgenii Kuznetsov: I am fully ready to fight for the best trophies

Divers, the participants of the 16th FINA World Championships, keep arriving in Kazan. Today, at 8 o’clock in the morning the Kazan 1 Railway Station welcomed the Russian diving team. The silver medal winner of London 2012, Evgenii Kuznetsov was among them. Together with his partner Ilia Zakharov, they are about to be the first ones to perform a dive with a 3.9 degree of difficulty (DD).

– The journey to Kazan was very good; we've travelled with friendly, cheerful group of people (smiles). The time’s passed quickly. I’ve even had a good sleep, that’s why now I am 100% ready for training practices. 

– This season you’ve already claimed gold medals at Russian and European championships. Are you also planning to be on top this time?

– From your lips to God’s ears. We’ll make as much efforts as we can to show everything we are capable of. We are sure to fight for the best trophies.

– Are Chinese divers still considered to be the main rivals for gold?

– As a matter of fact the level of competitiveness is much higher today. Apart from Chinese athletes, I would pay attention to divers from Mexico, Germany and Ukraine as well. The competition itself is enormous! Since diving as a sport event grows in popularity today we can not allow ourselves to cut some slack. 

– During the European Championships in Rostock you were lucky to get acquainted at least a bit with the routine of your European rivals. What about Chinese or Mexican divers, do you have anything in mind about their routine?

– I’ve already competed with them at the FINA Diving World Series, one leg of which was held in Kazan by the way. The FINA Diving World Series gathered the world’s best drivers, that is why I suppose I know exactly what every single of us is capable of. However, some athletes are likely to change a bit their routines, specially for the upcoming Championships.

- Moreover, Ilia Zakharov and you first executed a dive (DD - 3.9) at the Russian Championships after the World Series. There is an opinion that your rivals have such surprises in store, too. Do you agree?

- We’ll see. Why guess? We are worthy of a win, we think so, too. So we are going to fight for it no matter who has what surprises in store. What’s the difference?!

- By the way, your duet executed this new dive at the Russian Championships for the fourth time in your life. How many times have you repeated it after the national Championships? May I say your synchronised movements are polished?

- Of course, Ilia (Zakharov – V.D.) and I practiced this dive. How many? About 30-40 times. Basically, I think everything’s going to be great. But anyway head coach Oleg Zaytsev makes a decision to include it in the programme or not.

- Is there a chance of not seeing this dive at the World Championships?

- I give it 95% that we perform this dive. However, tweaks are possible before the start of the competitions. You understand that this is a very delicate issue.

- Training is going well underway in the Aquatics Palace. Why wasn’t our team one of the first to start training?

- First came those who needed acclimatisation. The athletes from the countries with hours-long difference from Russia’s time. Otherwise it will be difficult to perform, they will feel sleepy, tired and lack of myogenic tonus might affect them. As we compete in our country, we need less days for adaptation. We came here 4-5 days before the start, so I think that’s enough.

- Do you still feel strong by the end of the season after victories at the Russian and European Championships?

- I must confess this season has been going through quite easily and positively. I do not feel tired at all. So I set to tussle for the top positions for our country to benefit.