Russia Wants Michael Phelps to Swim at Worlds in Kazan

Photo Courtesy: Arizona Republic-USA TODAY Sports

Coverage of the 2015 FINA World Championships is sponsored by Wylas Timing. Visit our coverage page for more.

Some heavy-hitters within Russian swimming are rallying around the hashtag #MichaelSwim4Russia in hopes that Michael Phelps will show up at the 2015 World Championships this year.

Dmitry Volkov, one of the top ambassadors of Russian swimming and an Olympic bronze medalist in the 100 breast at the 1988 Olympics, took time out during Russian Nationals to speak with several administrators and swimmers about Phelps potentially gaining a special dispensation from FINA to swim at the World Championships.

Alexander Popov:

Несколько слов от Александра Попова Майклу ФелпсуНесколько слов от Александра Попова Майклу Фелпсу #MichaelSwim4Russia #MichaelPhelps #ArmyofRussianSwimmers

Posted by Swim Illustrated on Saturday, April 25, 2015

In the video above, Popov says that he’d love to see Phelps in Russia and that he would have great support here. He ends his conversation saying “Come to Russia, bro!”

Yuliya Efimova:

Yuliya Efimova to Michael PhelpsA few words from Yulia Efimova to Michael Phelps #MichaelSwim4Russia #MichaelPhelps

Posted by Swim Illustrated on Saturday, April 25, 2015

Efimova, in English, had a bit of fun saying that all Russian girls love Phelps and that they want him to come swim in Kazan.

Yaroslav Novitskiy:

Yaroslav Novitskiy addressed to Michael PhelpsGuinness record-holder, Swimming world champion and records-holder in Masters, Winner of more than 3000 awards Yaroslav Novitskiy addressed to Michael Phelps#MichaelSwim4Russia #MichaelPhelps #ArmyofRussianSwimmers

Posted by Swim Illustrated on Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Novitsky, in English, says that not only should Phelps come and swim at the World Championships that he should also swim during World Masters also in Kazan.

Sergey Fesikov:

Сергей Фесиков о Майкле ФелпсеSergey Fesikov says about Michael Phelps#MichaelSwim4Russia #MichaelPhelps #ArmyofRussianSwimmers

Posted by Swim Illustrated on Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Fesikov seemed to be the only dissenter in the interviews, saying there were plenty of other Michaels to produce in Russia, and that he’d see Phelps in Rio.

Special thanks to Maria Dobysheva for Russian translation.

14 Comments

Oldest

Newest Most Voted

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Ata Pürdik

8 years ago

KING !!

Prizma DoSo

8 years ago

O.o !!!

Jocelyne Humbert O'Kane

8 years ago

Everyone wants to swim with the best but is he ready?

Pedro Valadares

8 years ago

Reply to Jocelyne Humbert O'Kane

No he is not. It will be too early to him to come back. Phelps has a huge history in the sport and he cannot risk this in order to promote the Worlds in Kazan.

Maria

8 years ago

Reply to Pedro Valadares

What do you mean by “promote the Worlds in Kazan”? He wasn’t invited as a “honorable guest” like in Barcelona to “promote” or something . He honestly qualified for Kazan which means that performing at Worlds was among his priorities when he was planning comeback. He could have just relaxed, swum to make relays and used Trials as a high-level practice but nope, he posted World no.1 and made three individual events. Just to “promote Worlds”, really?