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Russia’s synchro swimmer Kolesnichenko: ‘We must double down on work’ to remain in top

Russia’s 13-time World Champion Svetlana Kolesnichenko won gold in synchronized swimming’s solo technical routine at the 2018 European Aquatics Championships

Svetlana Kolesnichenko Tamas Kovacs/MTI via AP

Svetlana Kolesnichenko

© Tamas Kovacs/MTI via AP

GLASGOW, August 6. /TASS/. Russian synchronized swimmers have to work harder after each victory to maintain their leading positions on the global arena, Russia’s 13-time World Champion Svetlana Kolesnichenko said on Monday.

Kolesnichenko won gold earlier in the day in synchronized swimming’s solo technical routine at the 2018 European Aquatics Championships, which run in Glasgow between August 2 and 12.

The 24-year-old Russian won the event with the result of 93.4816. The silver went to Ukraine’s Yelizaveta Yakhno (91.3517 points) and Italy’s Linda Cerruti showed the third best result of 90.2282 points to grab the bronze.

"The most frightening is that you must maintain the level," Koleshichenko told journalists after winning the gold medal. "It is easy saying ‘hey, Russians are the winners again,’ but we need proving each year that we are the best. We must double down on our work and this is the most difficult."

"I never had a European gold medal in solo technical routine," Kolesnichenko, who is now a six-time European champion, said. "Each medal is very important and we treat them all reverently. There has never been a disrespectful treatment of them."

"Many ask me about my motivation," she continued. "My conclusion is that if you like what you are doing than you cannot live without it. An athlete wraps up sports career as soon as he gets tired of what he is doing."

"I love my work and cannot live without it," Koleshichenko said. "If a single month passes by without my work, I am getting bored."

Monday’s gold was second for Kolesnichenko at the 2018 European Aquatics Championships. Last Friday she won gold with her teammate Varvara Subbotina in duet technical routine event.

Koleshnichenko, who is also the 2016 Olympic champion in team event, is set to compete on Tuesday in duet free and solo free routines of the 2018 European Aquatics Championships.

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