Evgenia Chikunova, the world record-holding Russian swimmer, has indicated she does not intend to pursue neutral status at this time. In remarks quoted by Sports Express, she stressed that returning to the highest levels of international competition would be a challenging path, and she is unsure about the prospects of competing under a neutral flag in the near future. Instead, she plans to begin this season with local meets, starting with the Russian Championship and the Vladimir Salnikov Cup, as she charts her course back into competitive swimming.
Her most famous achievement—setting the world record in the 200-meter breaststroke with a time of 2:17.55—was publicly highlighted during a broadcast on the Olympics website during a recent swimming event. The broadcast prominently displayed the Russian flag alongside her name, underscoring the national pride associated with her record mark. This performance, achieved in April 2023, remains a benchmark in the event, illustrating the high bar Chikunova set for breaststroke specialists worldwide.
In Kazan, during the Russian Cup final, the 19-year-old demonstrated formidable speed. She posted faster times in both the 100-meter and the 200-meter breaststroke than notable young rivals—South Africa’s Tatyana Smith and the United States’ Kate Douglas—who claimed victory in the 2024 Games for those distances. Her showing there reinforced her status as a rising figure in breaststroke racing and signaled a continued drive to compete at the top level once international eligibility becomes viable again. (Sports Express)
Previously, Chikunova had emphasized that for her, the result matters most. That sentiment captures a straightforward athletic philosophy: performance on race day defines the moment, regardless of external circumstances or eligibility debates. The swimmer’s comments reflect a focus on preparation, discipline, and daily improvement as the pathway back to global stages. (Sports Express)