After his teammate Maria Astashkina broke the 200 breaststroke Junior World Record on Thursday, Russia’s Anton Chupkov broke the men’s mark in the 100 meter race on Saturday at the 2015 European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan.
In the final, Chupkov swam a 1:00.65, which not only broke the European Junior Championships Record/Euro Games Record; it was also faster than his own 1:00.84 from last year’s Youth Olympic Games.
Junior World Records are available to boys who are aged 15-18 at year’s end, and girls aged 14-17. Chupkov turned 18 in February.
Chupkov took the Youth Olympic Games title in this event last year as a 17-year old, though his best time and the old World Junior Record were done in the semi-finals. Later this summer, he will race at the senior World Championships. Russia has not put out their final roster for the Junior World Championships (he could conceivably race in both), but will now have about 6 weeks to tune up for a home crowd in Kazan with an attempt to cement his place among Russia’s elite ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games. He earned his spot on that team with a Russian National Championship in the 200 breaststroke.
This time leaves Chupkov just outside of the world’s top 25 in 2015. The swim is his 3rd gold medal of the inaugural Baku European Games, after the 200 breast and 400 medley relay.
So it seems to me that even though it is cheating all breaststrokers are getting in a quick dolphin kick when they dive. Everyone in this race did it. Is this something that FINA and USA swimming are just going to ignore?
FINA ruled against using underwater cameras to support the officials. Since it’s nearly impossible to catch without using underwater cameras, no, FINA won’t do anything about it.
That’s sad that blatant cheating won’t be addressed. That will definitely filter into USA swimming and age groupers looking for an advantage.
Look out for Andrew and Whitley I predict the Junior Worlds could be a show down between these three swimmers
Those two are both over a second off this guy. They have a hell of a long way to go to even push Chupkov on this. While both are hugely talented, Chupkov is in a league of his own in this event. Should be a good battle for the minor medals though.
Weren’t Andrew and Whitley not shaved and tapered during their 1:01 swims?
Obviously you never heard of Ippei Watanabe. Andrew and Whitley might have a chance to fight for the bronze medal, but thats it.
Sorry guys, I was just wondering.
Well done