RDC2017: Yulia Timoshinina and Nikita Schleikher make a triumphant comeback

Mixed duet 10m platform event marked the end of the first competition day of the Russian Diving Championships. Yulia Timoshinina and Nikita Schleikher, divers from Moscow and Kazan, took the crown at the even with 301,14 points. Ekaterina Ukolova and German Stroev from Voronezh finished second (273, 36). Angelina Shelemetyeva and Boris Efremov from Volgograd claimed bronze (224, 34).

Mixed duet is relatively new discipline for Russian diving, so not many pairs competed, but those who did, fully exhibited their prowess at the platform of the Aquatics Palace in Kazan. The winners’ programme included twists, 2 or 3 somersaults which is considered to be highest excellency.

After the competition, Yulia Timoshinina confessed she waited for long for Nikita Schleikher to get back in shape.

“We’ve been diving with Nikita since childhood so I got really upset when he got injured. We also perform well with Viktor Minibaev, we showed good results at the World Series, but I am still very excited about Nikita’s return and happy to get back together in my favourite city of Kazan. ”

Silver medalist German Stroev admitted Ekaterina Ukolova and him still have moments to work on.

“Our performance wasn’t bad, but we could do better. The programme was prepared specially for the Russian Championships. We wanted to amaze spectators and judges but we probably lacked for practice, may be the trainings also weren’t enough. Anyway we climbed the podium of the national championships and it is always an honour. ”

Boris Efremov, who claimed bronze, reckons that lack of competing experience may be a reason of their fails.

“I can’t say we did everything as expected. Could have performed the programme better,” he noted.