Flying by under the radar, with no obvious public announcement, Louisville has hauled in a huge pickup to join their freshman class this year. In addition to former World Junior record holder Maria Astashkina relocating from Russia to start her freshman year with the Cardinals this season, Arina Openysheva is on the 2017-18 roster and swam at the Cardinals’ meets at Notre Dame this weekend. Astashkina is from Moscow, while Openysheva is from Zelenogorsk.
Openysheva swam at the 2016 Rio Olympics for Russia, where she finished 18th in the 200 free prelims and anchored Russia‘s 800 free relay to a 7th place finish. She also anchored Russia‘s 4th place effort in this relay at the 2017 World Championships, before helping them to a 4×100 free relay silver medal at the 2017 World University Games. As a junior swimmer, Openysheva won 7 gold medals at the 2015 European Games in Baku, then earned several medals at the 2015 World Jr Champs where she helped Russia break the mixed 4×100 medley relay.
Openysheva is a very strong sprint/mid-distance freestyler, with LCM bests of 54.45/1:57.66/4:08.81, times that are among the best of the top swimmers in the NCAA right now. There’s an obvious transition to SCY that has to happen, but those times suggest that she’ll be a force in the 100, 200, and 500 free individually as well as a big relay swimmer for the Cards. In the 800 free relay, Mallory Comerford has historically been the only huge leg for Louisville, and that could change here with Openysheva.
In Louisville‘s matchup with Notre Dame today, Openysheva posted a 1:51.48 in the 200 free (7th), a 4:58.83 in the 500 free (4th) and anchored the Cardinals’ A 400 free relay to 2nd place in a 50.23.
Louisville has done well recruiting swimmers from Russia in recent years. In addition to Openysheva and Astashkina joining up this year, junior Alina Kendzior is from Moscow, and the recently graduated Grigory Tarasevich was from Russia, as well.
The russians are overrunning america. 200,000 thousand russians in miami alone, although the 300,000 ukrainians in Sacramento are giving them a run for their money. 4 million foreign born russians in america. Second only to Mexicans and Mexican immigration has ground to a slow trickle.
Now their swimmers are continuing the colonization . Noooooooo. They are hacking america just as they supposedly hacked the election. The conspiracy theory continues and trump is importing them russians.
Just kidding guys and gals.
On a more serious note I think it will help russia in the long run as Russia doesn’t have the infrastructure like the NCAA.
We,ve seen a wave of swimmers from Europe swimming in the US college system recently. Mostly from Eastern Europe ( especially poland, hungary, Ukraine and russia) but also from Eastern Europe ( mainly britain and the netherlands).
It,s great.
Add Spain:
http://www.nataccion.com/la-dispersion-espanola/
Underwhelming times and I will cut her some slack, but the 5th stroke of underwater on Short course yards plays a big role. Hopefully for her and Louisville she can make the transition.
Can someone explain why all these foreigners come to train in america? Any reason?
Expérience, travel, training, education, escape Russia…..
She got exported because she has not improved & has been replaced by the junior worlds medallist in the 400/ 800 .for funding . She lost them the bronze medal at worlds in the 800 relay .
Whilst your Congress & media huff & puff , Russia says thank you dolts – take this one & pay for her training . Sanctions sanctions sanctions bwahhh!
Full scholarship too
Will presume you’re not trolling but in truth the reasons will vary from one swimmer to the next.
In some countries, the support infrastructure for the sport may be lacking so a NCAA collegiate stint may be an ideal chance to advance. On the education side, reasons may vary. For some, the quality of the tertiary institutions at home may be significantly below that of the NCAA college offering the scholarship. For others where the standards of the best universities are comparable if not higher than the offering school; then the decision may hinge on which has precedence academics (esp if seeking a career in “the professions”) or swimming. Hence you see far fewer top line Brits, Aussies & W.Euros… Read more »
This could also be a big plus for the Russian swimming federation, as well. They don’t have the infrastructure there to support the athletes choosing BOTH an education and elite swimming. That worked out decently for them with Morozov (though in actuality, he had been here a while as a HS student, but the Russians piggy-backed his state-side training with his nationality, and didn’t give him a tough time about living and studying in the USA). Worked pretty well for Tarasevich, also.
As for W Europeans: remember that Clement Lefert, a Frenchman who trained at USC, was on the 4 x 100 FrR that won gold in 2012, and the 4 x 200 FrR that won silver that same year.… Read more »
Here comes the next wave of foreign athlete commitments. Kacper Stokowski to UF
bodes well for their 800 free relay
Louisville is dangerous
Great LC times, but I’m not sure that 1:51 & 4:58 are a great way to start her career
Cut her some slack, it’s the first weekend in October after enduring the pre-meet season conditioning practices. Check in after fall invites happen lol. We have no idea what will happen with a little rest/taper!
Girl is probably broken down and experiencing new training. Give her some time. I love big-time taper swimmers. Lochte used to swim his 200 in 1:40+ mid season, but he could put together a pretty good 200 when he rested.