Despite Being Barred From the World Championships, 23-Year-Old Swimming Prodigy Crowns Himself King With a Fresh Record

World Aquatics Championship attracts talent from all around the world to its yearly event. And in 2023, athletes from the United States, Australia, and Canada dominated the event in Japan. Unfortunately, athletes from Russia, who had the potential to display at the event, were unable to compete. The Russian squad is barred from competing in the event due to the continuing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

The Russian athletes are, however, participating in the 2023 Swimming Cup of Russia, held in the fifth-largest city of the country, Kazan. And swimmer Kliment Kolesnikov created history at these European championships by setting a new world record in the men?s 50 backstroke.

Kliment Kolesnikov sets a new record.

On July 27, 23-year-old Kliment Kolesnikov created history. The swimmer set a new record in the men?s 50-meter backstroke at the semifinals of the 2023 Swimming Cup of Russia. The Russian prodigy touched the wall in a time of 23.55, scraping 16 seconds off the previous world record of 23.71 set by 2021 US Olympian Hunter Armstrong. Kliment is also the first swimmer of the 2023 swimming season with under 24 seconds as the top time in the world outperforming Justin Ress’s time of 24.10.

Many swimming enthusiasts impressed by the performance, posted by the 23-year-old’s prodigious achievement on social media. On July 27, a swimming account on Twitter posted a video of the 21-year-old winning the 50 Back with the caption “Kliment Kolesnikov breaks the World record in the Men?s 50 back.”

Along with the long-meter 50-meter back, Klimnet holds a world record in the short-course 50-meter back as well. Currently, Kliment is only one of the few swimmers to hold multiple individual records.

Kliment?s win in the Short course 50m back

In November 2022, Kliment Kolesnikov trumped an eight-year-old record set in swimming. The athlete in the Russian short course championship held from November 20?25 set a new world record in the 50 backstroke, short course meter. The athlete touched the wall with a time of 22.11, reducing 11 seconds from one of the oldest male world records of 22.22, set by French Olympian Florent Manaudou in 2014. This week on 26th July the athlete added another individual record to his hall of fame, Kliment is now the second-fastest swimmer in the 100-meter backstroke with a time of 51.82, after Italian 100-meter champion Thomas Ceccon (51.61).

Also read:7 Years After Michael Phelps? Historic Rio Olympics Win, Swimming World Witnesses a Similar Marvel at World Championships 2023

Although the Russian team?s participation in the Olympics has not been decided yet, as the team hasn’t received formal invitations for the big games. Kliment Kolesnikov is still breaking records and making his name. Now the swim enthusiasts hope the 21-year-old athlete will also exhibit incredible skills in the 50-stroke finals at the Russian Championship.

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