In the Irkutsk district, the stage of the All Russian swimming competition for the prizes of Alexander Popov has started, with 120 athletes from 10 regions of Russia taking part. For the Irkutsk region, this is the first experience of hosting a tournament of this level, and on the first day the hosts of the pool won three gold and one bronze medal. Ahead are short distance races, relays, as well as entertainment and excursions for the participants.

120 athletes from 10 Russian regions (two teams represent the Irkutsk Region) are taking part in a stage of the All-Russian Swimming Competition for the prizes of four-time Olympic champion Alexander Popov. The competition started today in the Irkutsk District, in the pool of the physical culture and recreation complex at the EMERCOM base. The pool has 4 lanes, each 25 m long, is equipped with equipment from the leading Italian company Marco-Pool, and is fully automated.
Before the start, the athletes were greeted by the First Deputy Minister for Physical Culture, Sports and Youth Policy of the Irkutsk Region, Ilya Reznik, and the President of the Irkutsk Region Swimming Federation, Sergey Bryansky.
As Sergey Bryansky said, in the 5-year history of the Alexander Popov Cup, this is the first experience of holding away stages. On the other hand, the Irkutsk Region is hosting swimming competitions of this level for the first time.
- Boys born in 1997-1998 and girls born in 1999-2000 are taking part in the competition. Since this is the beginning of the swimming season, there will be no long-distance events. The athletes will swim 50- and 100-meter distances and two relay races. All styles are included: freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly, and backstroke, Sergey Bryansky explained.
To confirm the highest level of the tournament, three international-category judges have been invited to Irkutsk.
Based on the results of the first day of competition, athletes from the Angara region won three gold and one bronze medal. The fight for the sporting trophies will continue tomorrow, on the second day of the competition.
In addition to the sports program, entertainment events and excursions will be held for the participants of the competition.
The stage of the All-Russian Swimming Competition, the Alexander Popov Cup, is being held in Irkutsk on the initiative of the Irkutsk Region Swimming Federation, with the support of the Ministry for Physical Culture, Sports and Youth Policy of the Irkutsk Region.
Based on materials from the press service of the Ministry for Physical Culture, Sports and Youth Policy of the Irkutsk Region