Russian swimmers take 18 medals at world championship
Russian swimmers have placed fourth in the medal standings at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, collecting 18 medals while competing under neutral status. The country’s athletes have gradually been returning to international competitions after years of restrictions over the Ukraine conflict.
The latest swimming championship marked the first time Russian swimmers and divers have participated in the event since 2019. At the next tournament in 2022, Russian athletes were banned following recommendations from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Russia won six golds in Singapore, including the men’s and mixed 4x100m medley relays and the men’s 50m backstroke. Synchronized swimmer Aleksandr Maltsev took three golds across solo and mixed duet routines.
Silver medals came in multiple swimming and diving events, including individual races and team competitions. Russia also earned bronzes in women’s synchronized duets and the men’s 400m individual medley.
China took first place in the overall standings with 37 medals (15 golds), followed by Australia (28, with 13 golds), and the United States (32, with 10 golds).
Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev said the results are “among the best” and told Match TV that “without our athletes, there would have been fake champions.” Lawmaker Dmitry Svishchev called the medals “doubly valuable” due to the political and psychological pressure exerted on Russian nationals.
Russian athletes have continued winning in other sports as well, despite restrictions. Last month, Russia’s two-time Olympic fencing champion Yana Egorian won sabre gold at the World Championships in Georgia. Fencer Kirill Borodachev took silver, as did the women’s sabre team.
Meanwhile, the International Skating Union (ISU) has reported plummeting revenues since banning Russian athletes from competition, following IOC recommendations. A recent report found that the move closed off a “key market” for the sport and “reduced competitivity due to the absence of some elite athletes.”
Moscow has repeatedly objected to the restrictions imposed by the IOC and other sports organizations. Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned the moves as “ethnic discrimination” and a “violation of the Olympic Charter principles against politicizing sports.”
