Ukraine’s Vladyslav Bukhov seizes world title, calls for Olympic ban on Russians
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Ukraine's gold medal winner Vladyslav Bukhov (centre) celebrates on the podium with silver medallist Cameron McEvoy, of Australia, and British bronze medallist Benjamin Proud.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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DOHA – Ukraine swimmer Vladyslav Bukhov wrested Cameron McEvoy’s 50m freestyle crown away by the slimmest margin at the world championships on Feb 17, as Sarah Sjostrom extended her 50m butterfly reign to a record sixth title in succession.
With six golds up for grabs in the evening programme in Doha, American Claire Curzan completed a rare backstroke treble by winning the 200m, while Italian distance queen Simona Quadarella took the 800m freestyle gold in a thriller.
Bukhov stormed home in 21.44 seconds to pip Australian favourite McEvoy by 0.01sec and win his first world title for Ukraine.
The Kiev-based swimmer said the war with Russia had made training dangerous.
“It’s hard, really hard,” the 21-year-old said.
“We train while Russian rockets are flying around swimming pools or other training buildings. So you never know still if you are alive or not. It’s difficult. For all Ukrainians.”
Asked if Russians should compete at the July 26-Aug 11 Paris Olympics, he said: “Absolutely not.
“I want to say Russia is dangerous and should not be supported in competition.”
McEvoy had his slowest swim in the freestyle final after a sizzling 21.13sec in the heats and 21.23sec in the semi-finals.
“Mixed emotions,” said the 29-year-old, who has revived his career over the past year with a scaled-back training regime.
“Of course you want to get the gold medal... Regardless of missing the gold by 0.01, I can’t look back at where I’ve come from and be disappointed with that.”
The evergreen Sjostrom, 30, ignited the night with her win in the non-Olympic 50m butterfly, producing a scintillating swim of 24.63sec, only 0.20sec off her world record.
Sjostrom, who beat French runner-up Melanie Henique by nearly a second, became the second swimmer to win six consecutive world titles, with American great Katie Ledecky the first in the 800m freestyle at Fukuoka in 2023.
Sjostrom’s 13 individual world titles have all come over 50m or 100m in either freestyle or butterfly, but she withdrew from the 100m free in Doha.
“I don’t want to be greedy,” she said. “Look at all my medals I won already and you will know why I don’t have to do that many races any more.”
Hampered by an untimely illness, Curzan narrowly missed out on the United States team to Fukuoka in 2023 but has filled her boots in Doha in the absence of the biggest names in backstroke.
Having already wrapped up the 50m and 100m titles, the 19-year-old smashed her personal best to win the 200m in 2min 05.77sec, more than a second clear of Australia’s Jaclyn Barclay, 17.
Curzan has six medals from Doha, with her individual ones earning her US$75,000 (S$101,000).
“I don’t think I could have scripted a better meet,” said the Virginia University swimmer. “Definitely (having) a shopping trip. I’ve been jealous of all my friends’ wardrobes at college.”
Ledecky gave up her 800m title by skipping Doha, but the crowd was treated to a thrilling battle as Quadarella won in 8:17.44, 0.09sec ahead of Germany’s Isabel Gose.
A young Chinese team, led by 100m freestyle world record holder Pan Zhanle, won the mixed freestyle relay in 3:21.18, ahead of Australia and third-placed US. REUTERS
