Kolesnikov on whether he will apply for neutral status: “If only you consider yourself a nobody and are ready to turn your back on everyone, then yes. But this is not my story” – Sport Mail.ru

Earlier, the International Swimming Federation (World Aquatics) approved the criteria for the neutral status of Russian athletes, including admission only to individual starts and a maximum of one swimmer for each distance.

— We already talked after World Aquatics published the criteria for admission to international competitions. A couple of months have passed, have you already got your head around this whole story?

“My attitude towards this has not changed. This is all abnormal.

— Didn’t you want to send an application and see what comes in response?

– No. Even if you get all this, what will it give? Comfort yourself? So, what is next?

– Perform at the World Championships in Doha.

– If only you consider yourself a nobody and are ready to turn away from everyone, are ready for everyone to turn away from you, then yes. But this is not my story.

— In other sports, they go to the starts in a neutral status and return normally. Or do you have some kind of team-wide decision – I don’t go in a neutral status?

“We didn’t meet with the guys to discuss this. But I think everyone on the team is of the same opinion – two-time Olympic medalist in swimming Kliment Kolesnikov.