The Russians have had a very good year in the pool, which included eight podium finishes at the 2013 World Championships (2 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze) and 22 medals to finish on top of the standings at the European Short Course Championships in Herning (13 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze) and at the conclusion of the Salnikov Cup at one of their biggest competitions on home soil they celebrated those successes.
Vlad Morozov and Yuliya Efimova were both recently awarded with the Russian Swimming’s Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year.
Morozov won a silver in the 50 freestyle at the World Championships setting a new Russian national record of 21.47, beating a 13 year old mark that had been set by Alexander Popov. He also added a bronze as part of the men’s 4 x 100 freestyle relay team.
He then went on to finish second to South African Chad le Clos in the 2013 FINA World Cup before ending the year by collecting seven golds in Herning at the European Short Course Championships (50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 100 IM, men’s 4 x 50 freestyle relay, men’s 4 x 50 medley relay, mixed 4 x 50 freestyle relay and mixed 4 x 50 medley relay).
Efimova had an incredible World Championships in Barcelona where she came away with victories in both the 50 and 200 meter breaststroke as well as a silver in the 100 breaststroke, all in new Russian national record times (29.52, 1:05.02 and 2:19.41).
She then won four golds (50 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke, women’s 4 x 50 medley relay and mixed 4 x 50 medley relay) along with a one silver (100 breaststroke) at the European Short Course Championships.
Efimova also broke two short course world records taking down Jessica Hardy‘s 2009 50 breaststroke record of 28.80 when she posted a 28.71 at the World Cup in Tokyo and Rebecca Soni‘s 2009 200 breaststroke record of 2:14.57 by winning the European Short Course Championships in a time of 2:14.39.
Victor Avdienko and Andrey Efimov shared the coach of the year honours. Avdienko for his work with Morozov and Eimov for the work with his daughter.
Victoria Andreeva, Elizabeth Bazarov, Oleg Kostin, Artem Lobuzov, Semen Makovich, Rosalia Nasretdinova, Veronika Popova, Vyacheslav Prudnikov, Maria Reznikov, Vyacheslav Sinkevich, Cyril Strelnikov and Svetlana Chimrova were all recognized for their performances throughout the 2013 season.
It was difficult to beat sportspersons from athletics because IAAF’s most prestigious championships was held in Moscow this year, albeit Efimova would have been an acceptable choice over Isinbajeva. Not that Isinbajeva was bad one. According to this logic a swimmer or two may get the recognition in 2015.
The title should be”… Russian SWIMMING sportsman and woman of the year”.
First when i read the title, wow the Russian chose swimmer as their athlete of the year instead that athletic, winter sport, weightlifting, wrestling, etc. But when i read the article, oh it’s only swimming. 🙂
And, oh if you are Yulia Efimova, your father should be Andrey Efimov. Efimova is a family name for woman. Efimov for man. 🙂