Sofia Diakova on winning the European Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships: “I tried my best to perform at the highest level”

Young athletes met a trainee of the Delta sports school at the Kazan Airport

Kazan athlete Sofia Diakova arrived in the capital of Tatarstan after winning the European Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships, which took place on July 1-6 in Samorin (Slovakia). More than 600 athletes participated in the competitions, including 56 Russians who competed in a neutral status.

Sofia Diakova won gold in the 800-meter distance in 8:27.78, and another gold in the 400-meter distance, which she completed in 1:59.09. Sofia also earned a bronze medal in the 200-meter distance, finishing in 1:59.09 as well.

The competitions were held in open water. Rain and wind made it difficult to the athlete to keep her focus during the swim. “I tried not to think about it and show my best. Moreover, all the girls swam in equal conditions, with rain and wind. The conditions certainly did not prevent us from showing results,”- the athlete noted.

Svetlana Chepik, an Honored Worker of Physical Culture in the Republic of Tatarstan, trained Sofia at the Delta sports school for the European Championship. Sofia's victory at the junior competition gave her the opportunity to compete in the World Aquatics Championship, which will take place on July 11 in Singapore.

“We have the World Cup and the World Championship ahead of us, so we will be preparing for these starts,”- Sofia Diakova concluded.