2018 YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES
- October 6th-18th, 2018
- Swimming Portion: October 7th-12th, 2018
- LCM
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Schedule & Results
- Entries
- Youtube Live Stream
When Russian swimmer Kliment Kolesnikov won the 100 backstroke gold medal on Monday evening in Buenos Aires, Argentina at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, he became his country’s first champion of this year’s swimming events, and contributed to an 11-gold-medal haul already that has Russia sitting atop the overall Games medals table through 3 days of competition.
Still, the World Record holder and opening ceremonies flag bearer was disappointed with his time in spite of taking the win.
In an interview with the Russian Olympic Committee, Kolesnikov said he had hoped to be under 53 seconds (his final time was 53.26). In part, he blamed the fact that his hand hit the backstroke flags, which he said were hanging very low, and that caused him to lose tempo and almost miss a turn.
In spite of the time being slower than his 52.53 from the European Championships earlier this summer, Kolesnikov still kept things in perspective. “The main thing now is the gold medal,” he said. “That is more important – the fact that I brought gold to the team outweighs the time.”
Besides his individual swim, he also split a lifetime best of 48.17 to lead off Russia’s mixed 400 free relay – believed to be the 2nd-best time ever by a junior (behind Kyle Chalmers of Australia). He still has the 50 back and 200 back to swim individually.
It’s not like he Zuberoed it
That man actually used to be my coach
Does his 100 free time actually count as it was done in a mixed relay?
Depends on what you mean by “count.” Not sure what Russia’s policy is on mixed relay leadoffs, though you’re right that FINA doesn’t recognize them as records. But as not a record, and with him not needing it to hit any Worlds or Olympic qualifying standards, “counting” is kind of a nebulous topic.
FWIW – every relay led off with a male swimmer, so the original FINA concern of advantages from swimming against the opposite sex didn’t impact his swim (though, that doesn’t change FINA’s ruling on records). In fact, only Brazil went anything but MM-FF (Brazil went MFMF).
I mean count as in is it an official time? Like can he use that time in the future? I know it doesn’t really matter just curious because I’m not sure about the rules.
That would be a really poor reason to disqualify someone, as it’s 100% the fault of the flags/organizers. The flags should never be in such a position where they can be touched other than maybe with a running start bounding off the block and laying out fully to just graze them with a fingertip.
Which is the best get out challenge ever!
Sometimes for fun after practice the boys on my team try to jump from the blocks to touch the flags. No ones ever done it but they land in the water in some pretty crazy positions
You don’t need to lay out to touch the flags, or jump off the blocks. It’s actually easier to jump from the deck. I used to do 360 and then touch the flags. But my favorite was gently placing my teammates googles on the flags, and watch them try to get them off.
I mean a swimmer can’t help it if his arms are long
could it be possible he slipped up and was trying to say lane line?
No, he said “the flags hang so low that I hit them with my hand” (roughly translated). Don’t believe that lane lines hang low.
There was a pool I had to train in for about 6 months I was 5”8 at the time probably and could tap the flags on back if I wasn’t careful. That and the chlorine would burn your skin so all in all a bad pool
I used to race in a pool where you could touch the floor on the shallow end while simply stroking freestyle.
He hit the flags? How long are his arms??
Can we see a video or photograph please? I am far too lazy to look. It sounds seriously unlikely.
Race begins at 7:00 here: but inconveniently goes to a super closeup right as he’s passing under the flags: https://www.olympic.org/news/kolesnikov-and-milak-at-the-double-in-the-pool