Russian synchro swimmer Romashina sets record in total golds won at World Championships

GWANGJU /South Korea/, July 17. /TASS/. Russia’s synchro swimmer Svetlana Romashina became the most titled athlete in the history of this sport after she won the gold in the Solo Free Routine discipline on Wednesday at the 2019 FINA (International Swimming Federation) World Championships in South Korea’s Gwangju. The Russian swimmer was awarded by judges 97.1333 points for her performance to earn the gold, which brought her total number of the gold medals won at the World Championships to 20. Romashina is now the most titled athlete in the history of the synchronized swimming with 20 gold medals, having surpassed in this medals race her compatriot Natalia Ishchenko, who holds 19 gold medals of the World Championships. Asked whether synchronized swimmers are not in favor of all other international competitors because Russian athletes keep sweeping the pedestal, Romashina said they are perhaps "simply tired of seeing us continue winning." "Are we not in favor? I would say that we are rather annoying everyone," Romashina told journalists. "We have started annoying everyone eight years ago and the level of this annoyance is much higher today." "Sometimes I start thinking that we are not that good at all since everyone passing us by are in low mood and think about how long would it last," Romashina added. "However, I must say it is not true that we [Russian synchronized swimmers] are disliked and that allegedly some things are spoken behind our backs," Romashina continued. "The behavior of all athletes is more than decent." Tatiana Danchenko, the head coach of the Russian national synchronized swimming team, said it was still early comparing the merits of Romashina with the results of legendary US swimmer Michael Phelps. "She needs to stay competing for one more season if she wants to surpass Phelps [in terms of won medals]," Danchenko told journalists. "However, we are not competing with anyone, and while we have the will, strength and desire, we will continue with our work. As for Phelps I would say that our level is much higher." American swimmer Michael Phelps holds an unprecedented record of winning 26 gold medals of the FINA World Championships in addition to his 23 golds of the Olympic Games. Romashina stated previously that her goal was not to beat Phelps in the number of gold medals won at the World Championships. The 29-year-old Russian star in the sport of the synchronized swimming is now the 20-time World Champion, five-time Olympic champion and the 10-time European champion and she was never defeated in all sports tournaments, in which she participated. After the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Brazil Romashina took a break in her sports career and gave birth to a daughter. Last year she returned to sports. At the current World Championship, Romashina won earlier gold in the Duet Technical Routine in pair with Svetlana Kolesnichenko. Both athletes, Romashina and Kolesnichenko, are also scheduled to vie for more medals at the World Championship in Duet Free Routine on July 18. Athletes of the Russian national swimming team are currently second with five gold and three silver medals in the overall medals standings of the 2019 FINA World Championships after leaders China (10 golds, three silver and one bronze medal) and ahead of the 3rd place, which is shared by the national teams of Germany and Ukraine, with 1 gold and three bronze medals each. The 2019 FINA World Championship is hosted by the South Korean city of Gwangju between July 12 and 28. Read more