Well-known Russian commentator and TV presenter Dmitry Guberniev lauded Svetlana Romashina, a seven-time Olympic champion in synchronized swimming, as the best athlete in the history of modern Russia. The praise was shared through metaratings.ru, reflecting a high regard for Romashina’s achievements on the world stage.
In discussions about the greatest Russian athletes of the last thirty years, Guberniev acknowledged that there are many worthy contenders. Yet he singled out Romashina as a standout figure among the nation’s most iconic moments of the recent era, highlighting her uniqueness and enduring impact on the sport. This assessment places Romashina in the same breath as the sport’s most celebrated Russian stars (Source: metaratings.ru).
February 6 marked a pivotal moment as Svetlana Romashina announced her retirement from competitive synchronized swimming. The influential athlete stepped away after a career filled with record-breaking performances and a lasting influence on both teammates and fans worldwide.
Romashina, aged 33 at the time of retirement, demonstrated remarkable versatility and consistency across multiple Olympic Games. Her Olympic record includes gold medals earned in Beijing 2008 as part of the group routine, followed by further triumphs in London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020, where she earned two gold medals in group and duet events. Her medal collection at the European Championships stands at 13 titles, while the World Championships have seen her accumulate 21 golds, underscoring a level of dominance rarely seen in the sport.
Throughout her illustrious career, Romashina formed notable partnerships. From 2009 to 2012 and again in 2015 and 2016, she swam in a duet with Natalia Ishchenko, a pairing that captured immense praise and multiple championships. Between 2013 and 2014, and again after 2019, her duet partner was Svetlana Kolesnichenko, another athlete who contributed to Romashina’s continued success on the world stage. These collaborations helped define a period of sustained excellence and pushed the boundaries of what was possible in synchronized swimming (Source: metaratings.ru).