SPORTS
Openysheva to lead Russian Swimming team at Baku 2015
Baku, May 12, AZERTAC
Seven-time junior European champion Arina Openysheva will lead Russian Swimming team at Baku 2015.
Openysheva was one of 11 female swimmers selected by the Russian NOC for the Baku 2015 European Games along with 23 male swimmers. There were also two reserves named.
The 16-year-old Openysheva is one of Russia's biggest hopes for the future, possibly even for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after having won seven golds at the 2014 European Championships - 100m, 200m and 400m Freestyle; 4x100m Freestyle; 4x200m Freestyle; 4x100m Medley and 4x100 Freestyle Mixed.
But Openysheva is not the only swimmer who will come into Baku 2015 as European champion.
Maria Astashkina teamed with Openysheva for the 4x100m Medley title and also collected golds in 50m, 100m and 200m Breaststroke. Aleksandra Chesnokova was also on the gold medal winning 4x100m Medley team.
Maria Kameneva meanwhile collected silver in 50m Freestyle and 50m Backstroke as well as bronze at 50m Butterfly. And Daria Chikunova took silver in 200m Breaststroke and bronze in 100m Breaststroke.
The Russian male swimmers come less decorated into Baku 2015 though Anton Chupkov won gold at 4x100m Medley and 4x100m Mixed Medley and bronze at 50m and 100m Breaststroke. And Filipp Shopin claimed gold in 4x100m Medley and 4x100m Mixed Freestyle.