Russian swimming head coach Andrey Shishin announced a stricter training regime focused on central control for the upcoming Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle, following the team’s performance at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris where Russian athletes secured 19 medals. According to Shishin, the previous period of extended autonomy for personal coaches exposed limitations in training load management and competitive scheduling, leading to athletes arriving at major events without optimal freshness.
Stricter Oversight and Calendar Reforms for Los Angeles 2028
The Russian swimming federation plans to reduce intermediate competitions and centralize preparation around primary international targets, according to Shishin’s programmatic review. Shishin stated that heavy competition schedules during the previous season prevented younger competitors from maintaining peak condition. By curtailing secondary meets, the coaching staff aims to concentrate peak physiological output on core international events.
This centralized oversight extends to individual athlete programming. Kliment Kolesnikov requested a direct consultation with coaching staff after the national championships, acknowledging that his personal best times had stagnated since 2023. According to Shishin, performance plateaus exceeding two years require serious intervention, while stagnation lasting more than three years demands radical adjustments. Kolesnikov agreed to modify his swimming technique, prioritizing the 100-meter backstroke before reintroducing heavy focus on freestyle events.
Recalibrating Evgenia Chikunova’s Speed and Distance Balance
World record holder Evgenia Chikunova faces a targeted adjustment to her training profile under the new directive. Shishin identified a gradual decline in Chikunova’s baseline speed resulting from heavy specialization in the 200-meter breaststroke. The coaching staff intends to prevent her 200-meter progression from coming at the expense of her 100-meter speed.
The objective is to return Chikunova’s 100-meter breaststroke performances to the 1:04 range, avoiding stabilization around the 1:06 mark. Shishin pointed to swimmer Kate Douglass as an international model for balancing high-level speed with endurance across multiple distances.
Managing Egor Kornev’s Development Toward 2028
Egor Kornev represents a primary focus for the 2028 cycle. Shishin compared Kornev’s raw speed to a young Kolesnikov, identifying him as a potential world-record contender. Kornev recorded a 46.3-second split in the 4×100 freestyle relay at the Paris European Championships, a performance cited by the head coach as evidence of his ceiling.
To maximize Kornev’s potential, the coaching staff plans to narrow his individual event schedule ahead of the Los Angeles Games. Program managers will select specific individual events for investment while balancing those commitments with relay duties to prevent physical dispersion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Russian swimming team changing its preparation for Los Angeles 2028?
According to head coach Andrey Shishin, an analysis of the Paris European Championships showed that allowing personal coaches complete autonomy led to over-racing, poor load management, and stagnant personal best times among key athletes.
What specific changes are planned for Kliment Kolesnikov?
Kolesnikov agreed to modify his stroke technique after failing to improve his personal bests since 2023. His training will prioritize the 100-meter backstroke before shifting attention back to freestyle events.
How does the coaching staff plan to handle Evgenia Chikunova?
Coaches intend to address a loss of baseline speed caused by heavy 200-meter breaststroke specialization, targeting a return to 1:04-range performances in the 100-meter event by emulating multi-distance models like Kate Douglass.
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