Mister Butterfly on Olympics

During the London Olympic Games experts have many times estimated performances of Russian athletes. Today VK publishes an opinion of the direct participant of the Games – the leader of the Russian swimming team, vice-champion of the London Olympic Games who gained silver medal in 100 m Butterfly, Yeugeny Korotyshkin.

According to him, “the national team has gained more medals this time than it was in the previous Olympics. And the number of semifinals and finals is greater. The team is growing and moving forward.”

Speaking about organization of the Games, the athlete said that it “was at a high level except for some aspects: for example, all sporting facilities were built quickly and without extravagances. It seemed houses were folding, as well as stadiums which had no facing.

Regarding the Olympic village, the district was interesting and residential. But 8 people in a flat were too much because athletes were nervous, couldn’t fall to sleep and disturbed others. It seemed the walls were made of cardboard. Somebody say a word, and you hear it in the next flat. It seemed everything was done in haste. However, it didn’t prevent athletes from showing high results. And we are glad.”

As for prospects of Russian sport, Korotyshkin believes that “we can follow two ways: American or Chinese in popularization of sport. The more children are involved in sport, the more medals we will have. In Russia we prefer to raise elite athletes, i.e. a talented person appears and they are working with him or her. He or she is taken to all training camps; all forces are devoted to him or her. The person has no social problems. This is one variant. Why so? Because in Russia few children go in for swimming. This kind of sport is not very profitable. You should begin in childhood, and only parents can bring a child to the first training. Parents calculate “business-plans” in minds and prefer football or hockey.”

Speaking about personal plans, the athlete said: “I will rest for a month, get rid of physical and emotional tension. I plan to visit Thailand, for example. They say there is good massage. Since late September I plan to start a new season. I don’t intend to end the career. The next contest is the European Championship in short water. If I failed in the Olympics, I would end the career and find a new job. But now the situation has changed dramatically.”