Evgenii Somov, Only Russian Swimmers at Olympics, is Unique for More than AIN Status<\/strong><\/p>\n

Evgenii Somov<\/strong> hadn\u2019t had much time to take it all in, not just in a hectic July but for all of phase two of his swimming career.<\/p>\n

The Russian international didn\u2019t have his eyes set on trying to make a first Olympics in his mid-20s when he returned to the pool last fall after 18 months off. He didn\u2019t bank on an Olympic spot materializing, Russian sporting entities still banned internationally for the country\u2019s instigation of war in Ukraine and athletes from it and Belarus only permitted to appear as Independent Neutral Athletes.<\/p>\n

The St. Petersburg native was still unsure until the week of his scheduled departure from California to Paris if his visa paperwork could clear in time. Then once at the Paris La Defense Arena, he was straight into it, making a semifinal of the men\u2019s 100 breaststroke on the meet\u2019s first day.<\/p>\n

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Evgenii Somov of the Individual Neutral in the men’s 100 breast; Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala \/ Deepbluemedia \/ Insidefoto<\/p><\/div>\n
\u201cTo be honest, I didn’t really expect anything, because I was so busy, getting the status and then getting a visa,\u201d Somov said. \u201cPretty much still to the last day, I wasn’t even sure that I’m going. \u2026 It’s just like it was everything was happening in the very last moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
The only Russian swimmer at the Paris Olympics, Somov has cut an unorthodox path there, even before considering the geopolitical ramifications. From Louisville to California, around an 18-month sabbatical from the sport, Somov is found a way to start setting best times again, fulfilling his Olympic dream along the way.<\/p>\n
Somov figured he was done with swimming after five years at Louisville, around the COVID-19 pandemic. He\u2019d competed in his last Russian national meet in 2021 in Kazan and wrapped up his extended Cardinals career at NCAAs in the spring of 2022, twice finishing seventh in the 100-yard breaststroke and getting as high as fourth.<\/p>\n
But living in California and staying in shape outside of the water, Somov decided to give it one more go in the fall of 2023. With little training, he went 53.18 in the 100 breast and 20.38 in the 50 free at a short-course yards sectional in Livermore. At Speedo Sectionals in Huntington Beach in December, he was faster in the 100 breast (51.12) than at his last NCAAs (51.52, for 11th). Sectionals in Marin in March brought him back to the long-course pool, and at May\u2019s Atlanta Classic, he went 58.72 to set the Russian record in the event, at place where Russian records aren\u2019t normally set, to say the least.<\/p>\n
Much of that success came after the Dec. 8 decision by the International Olympic Committee to permit Russian and Belorussian athletes under the AIN flag. Once Somov got his A cut in May, he applied for the status, which was granted in late June.<\/p>\n
The decision wasn\u2019t something he discussed much with his family. His mother still lives in St. Petersburg, as does his extended family, and worry about the potential political fallout didn\u2019t deter his seeking AIN status. He’s one of four swimmers competing as Independent Neutral Athletes, the other three from Belarus.<\/p>\n
Being without a team is a little bit of an adjustment. From Louisville, he\u2019s used to being surrounded by swimmers from a variety of nations \u2013 the Cardinals have eight Olympians in the pool representing six countries. Wednesday night, he was rooting on fellow Russia native Anastasiia Kirpichnikova,<\/strong> who competed under the Russian Olympic Committee flag at the Tokyo Olympics and has since changed national affiliation to France, for which she won a silver medal in the 1,500 free<\/a>.<\/p>\n
It’s not exactly the same as a having a team behind you, right down to how plum a spot you are entitled to in the Olympic Village. But Somov is doing just fine without.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you ask, would I want to have a team here? Yes, obviously. Hell yeah,\u201d he said. \u201cI would like to live in the big building with all of my athletes. Be able to network with the top people in the world from all of the sports? I’m here by myself. Not by myself. There’s my coach, my friends. So I don’t feel like I’m by myself here.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Meet Results<\/a><\/li>\n
2024 Paris Olympics Meet Page<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Somov, judging by the chest full of tattoos and the facial hair that wouldn\u2019t be out of place in a stage show of The Three Musketeers, is a bit of a non-conformist. It applies for his journey, where he\u2019s been training largely without any other senior swimmers at Albany Armada Aquatics in California. He coaches there on the side, and he\u2019s got mostly 14- and 15-year-olds with him in the pool. (\u201cHey, they\u2019re still sparring partners,\u201d he contends.)<\/p>\n
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