Belarus NOC president attends opening of Strongest Athletes Swimming Cup

The tournament was inaugurated at the international-standard swimming pool in Minsk.

Viktor Lukashenko, alongside Minister of Sports and Tourism Sergei Kovalchuk, Chairperson of the Belarusian Swimming Federation Olga Stepus, and President of the Russian Aquatics Federation Dmitry Mazepin, gave the symbolic start to a media swim that featured renowned athletes, heads of sports federations, and media representatives.

In his address to the press, the head of the NOC expressed his pleasure in welcoming everyone to the modern, international-standard swimming pool, which was built in collaboration with Chinese partners.

“It has recently been opened by the head of state and has already become a true home for our athletes. Around 500 swimmers from 11 countries are participating in the Strongest Athletes Swimming Cup, so we have opened the doors of this magnificent venue to foreign athletes, too. We always hope for the participation of the strongest athletes, and we are delighted that they have come. Here with us are international, world, and European champions, Olympic medalists, and our young swimming stars. I wish our athletes a great performance, a strong showing of their abilities, and the chance to win coveted medals. The idea of a media swim is very interesting; I really liked it, and I think the spectators appreciated it as well. This should be continued in the future.”

On the professional front, the Belarusian team’s leaders are preparing to compete for medals. They include winner and multiple medalist at World and European Championships, a podium finisher at World Cup stages, and an Olympic participant Ilya Shymanovich, bronze medalist at the 2025 World Championships, multiple World Cup stage medalist, holder of numerous Belarusian records, and an Olympic participant Alina Zmushka, two-time World Championship bronze medalist, World Cup stage medalist, winner and medalist at the European Championships, with Olympic experience Anastasiya Shkurdai.

The Russian team arrived in Minsk with a powerful lineup, featuring Olympic silver and bronze medalist, and multiple world and European champion Kliment Kolesnikov, world record holder, European champion, and World Championship medalist Evgeniia Chikunova and multiple world and European champions Miron Lifintsev and Kirill Prigoda.

Press service of the NOC of Belarus
Photos by the NOC of Belarus