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Malyutin Wins 200 Free, Rogozhinova Tops 400 IM On Day 1 of Russian Swimming Cup

2023 Swimming Cup of Russia

The 2023 Swimming Cup of Russia kicked off on Tuesday from Kazan, with the competition hosting the top Russian and Belarusian swimmers who remain barred from competing at the World Aquatics Championships.

There were only two individual finals contested on the opening day, with veteran Martin Malyutin and youngster Daria Rogozhinova securing victories.

Malytuin used his patented back-half speed to win the men’s 200 freestyle in a time of 1:45.67, splitting 26.66/26.77 coming home to edge out Ivan Girev (1:45.79).

The time for Malytuin falls just shy of his season-best set in April (1:45.63), while his personal best sits at 1:44.79 from the 2021 European Championships in Budapest.

2005-born Roman Akimov rounded out the podium in 1:46.06, running down Mikhail Dovgalyuk (1:46.23) on the last 50 to chop two seconds off his previous PB.

In the women’s 400 IM, Rogozhinova, another up-and-comer having been born in 2006, topped the field in a time of 4:44.04, taking eight seconds off her best time entering the day (4:52.93). She initially went a PB of 4:47.75 in the heats.

Rogozhinova narrowly missed breaking the Russian Junior Record of 4:43.44, set by Anastasia Sorokina in 2021.

Taking a close second was Irina Krivonogova in 4:44.46, who missed her best time by half a second (4:43.95).

There were also timed finals in the men’s 400 free relay and women’s 800 free relay.

Topping the men’s event was St. Petersburg, who clocked 3:14.89 behind a 48.25 lead-off from Egor Kornev and a 48.24 third split from Vasily Kukushkin.

The fastest split in the field went to Grinev, who split 47.98, while Andrei Minakov was 48.61 on a lead-off leg.

Tatarstan won the women’s 800 free relay in 8:00.96, with Valeriia Salamatina highlighting the squad with a 1:58.68 anchor.

The field’s top split went to Daria Klepikova, who had a 1:58.32 anchor.

SEMI-FINAL HIGHLIGHTS

  • Evgeniia Chikunova, the world record holder in the women’s 200 breast, led the 50 breast semis in a time of 30.60, followed by Belarusian Alina Zmushka (30.84). The time for Chikunova was just shy of her PB (30.54) set in April.
  • In the men’s 100 breast semi-finals, Belarus’ Ilya Shymanovich powered his way to a time of 58.82, while Kirill Prigoda (59.75) was the only other swimmer sub-1:00. Shymanovich has been as fast as 58.51 this year.
  • Maria Kameneva set a new season-best to lead the women’s 50 back semis in 27.81, not too far off her lifetime best of 27.65 set in 2022.
  • The men’s 100 back semis saw Kliment Kolesnikov pace the field in 52.88, while 2006-born Miron Lifintsev (53.14) qualified second in a new PB. Reigning Olympic champion Evgeny Rylov (53.28) qualified third. Kolesnikov has been as fast as 52.54 this year, while Rylov’s season-best is 53.21.

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Khachaturian
1 year ago

Why is Minakov in a country that is at war rn

Fukuoka Gold
Reply to  Khachaturian
1 year ago

Because he wants his cake and eat it too.

Brasileiro
Reply to  Khachaturian
1 year ago

Israel?

Troyy
1 year ago

The Russians really know how to develop male backstrokers.

Former Big10
1 year ago

Hope Minakov rediscovers his spark.
Russia continues to churn out top male backstrokers 53 low, as a teen, is no joke. Hope he beats Rylov.

Sly
1 year ago

This is so pointless

Jojorab
Reply to  Sly
1 year ago

Stop

Swammer
Reply to  Sly
1 year ago

Just let them be. They’re swimmers, not military leaders or politicians. Honestly kudos to them for still having the energy to show up and swim against the same people for almost 2 years.

Pescatarian
1 year ago

Is this meet called the War Games?

Fukuoka Gold
Reply to  Pescatarian
1 year ago

Invasion Games

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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