2021 RUSSIAN NATIONAL SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- April 3-9, 2021
- Palace of Water Sports, Kazan, Russia
- Prelims: 9:00 am local/2:00 am Eastern, Finals: 6:00 pm local/11:00 am Eastern
- LCM (50m)
- Russian Olympic Qualification Procedures
- Meet Central
- Start Lists/Results
- Live Stream (YouTube channel)
Kliment Kolesnikov took down a star-studded field in the men’s 100 freestyle final on Day 5 of the 2021 Russian Olympic Trials, lowering the National Record in a time of 47.31.
Facing (now former) Russian Record holder Vladislav Grinev, (now former) world #1 Andrei Minakov and Vladimir Morozov, Kolesnikov led the heat from the get-go, out in 22.55 before blazing home in 24.76.
Kolesnikov’s swim breaks the previous Russian mark of 47.43, set by Grinev in 2019, and makes him the 10th-fastest performer of all-time.
Kolesnikov is also now the fifth-fastest swimmer in a textile suit.
All-Time Performers, Men’s 100 Freestyle (LCM)
- Cesar Cielo (BRA), 46.91 – 2009
- Alain Bernard (FRA), 46.94 – 2009
- Caeleb Dressel (USA), 46.96 – 2019
- Cameron McEvoy (AUS), 47.04 – 2016
- Eamon Sullivan (AUS), 47.05 – 2008
- Kyle Chalmers (AUS), 47.08 – 2019
- James Magnussen (AUS), 47.10 – 2012
- Frederick Bousquet (FRA), 47.15 – 2009
- Brent Hayden (CAN), 47.27 – 2009
- Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 47.31 – 2021
The 20-year-old entered the competition with a best time of 48.04, set back in 2018, and lowered that in all three rounds here in Kazan. Kolesnikov clocked 47.70 in the heats and 47.60 in the semis before dropping his 47.31 in the final.
In doing so, he also takes over the top spot in the world this season, moving past Minakov, who went 47.57 in October.
Minakov edged out Grinev in the battle for silver, 47.77 to 47.89, while Morozov took fourth in 48.18. The Russian 400 free relay is shaping up to be a formidable one in Tokyo.
It’s also important to note that Kolesnikov scratched out of another one of his best events, the 200 back, in order to fully focus on the 100 free on Wednesday. If he had raced the 200 back, he would’ve only had about 30 minutes of rest prior to the 100 free final.
So, what will it take to make the final in Tokyo….or even the semis?
Has he gained some muscle, or does he still look like someone’s gangly teenage brother who only swims summer league?
Probably looks better than you
Not impressed. Caeleb is going to smash this wr this summer!
So kolesnikov minakov grinev morozov potentially dangerous relay if the states don’t deliver
I’d say they are dangerous even if the US deliver, anything can happen on the biggest stage of competition.
What’s scary is that the dude is still just 20, turns 21 in July, so he could still get way stronger and quicker. And he is within 0.4 of the 100 back AND the 100 free WRs…
That would be a pretty sick double to hold.
I feel like 200 free and 200 back are more similar events. Heck, even Piersol was on the 2003 800 relay team
Even after this, the US should still be the favorite in this event. Nobody will be able to match all four US legs
Thing is younglings like Kolesnikov, Rylov, Minakov etc all trending upwards.
Not sure the same can be said of the US men (Held, Rooney, Adrian etc).
Honestly this might be the year where that is the case. Many nations are looking primed for the relays and I would not be surprised with a few upsets here and there. We have been seeing it on the national stage. Ippei comes to mind, grind just now in the 100fr for Rus. There are multiple “stand outs” that are not making the team with an indv spot. Relays are no different. Yes america usually do have a nice set of 6 people to go off for the relays (8 for medley). But that doesn’t mean other nations can’t step up.
The US has the possibility to be below 47 on all four legs, something that Russia can’t do. It’s just the Russians have just demonstrated that they’re going to be around 3:09.0 or lower. While the American guys outside of Dressel are a big question mark. Can Held repeat that 47.3? Will Rooney, Apple, Adrian, and all of the 47 point American freestylers be in shape? Until Trials we can’t know. The US could be 3:07.0 if everything goes right, it could also be 3:09.0 and Russia could take it.
Is this a threat for Dressel?
It is a threat, but not as serious as chalmers will be
bruh wtf