Swimmer Grigory Pekarsky - about the first pedestal of the European championships, records and family

At the recent European Aquatics Championships, Grigory Pekarsky won the only medal for our swimming team. In the final at a distance of 50 meters, the Belarusian took third place, second only to the Russian Yegor Kornev and the Frenchman Maxim Grussa. At the continental forum, he twice updated the national record, which lasted 13 years! After the decisive swim, Gregory had no words: at first he could not believe that everything worked out

Such a long-awaited medal - Awareness began to come 2 - 3 days after the swim, says Grigory. The final was reviewed only once. Perhaps there were some nuances in it, but everything turned out very well. Now all thoughts about the short water competition: there will be a very different swimming.

- In a 25-meter pool, you have set national records. Were there any preconditions before the European Championships that it would be possible to rewrite the achievement at your crown distance and on long water?

- In Paris, there was a task and a plan to swim. He did it well and broke the record. To be honest, when I did it for the first time in the semifinals, I took it quite calmly. Much more happy that he quickly swam the distance and with the eighth result went to the final, understood that it was a great luck.

Belarusian Grigory Pekarsky, Russian Egor Kornev and Frenchman Maxim Grusse after the final swim in the 50 m butterfly at the European Championships. In the final you had very titled opponents, and you had to start on the first track. Have you been able to track your competitors?

- In fact, from the first water you can see their muddy silhouettes. But the “half” is such a distance that if there is a small mistake or a flaw, you can lose. So I tried to do everything in the preliminary and semifinal swims.

- Not only did you win the first medal of the European Championships, but you also fulfilled the standard for the World Cup. How are you preparing for him now?

- Compliance with the standard made it easier for me. The season of “little” water is very short, you need to take the selection in a short time, and after the season of “big” water and vacation, you simply do not have time to gain the desired pace. I am now preparing for the World Cup. Several starts are planned before it: in October, three stages of the World Cup are to be held, in November - the Belarusian Championship. It will be about two weeks before the World Forum. There's not much time, so you have to be fully equipped.

- Your medal, won at the European Championship, turned out to be very long-awaited. In 2019, when you were 21, you won bronze at the World Universiade, now, at 28, bronze at the Continental Forum

After the Universiade, the coronavirus pandemic began, followed by suspension. We finally entered the international arena and it worked out. Of course, those years were difficult: they did not know where to go next. But when you love what you’re doing very much and believe in what’s going to be better, it helps. That's what I did.

- Not at all. It seems to me that she came when I became an adult, when awareness appeared, entered the team, travels and acquaintances began. School years were mega-challenging for me - I definitely wouldn't want to go back to them. (Laughs) In school, parents and coaches decide a lot for a child. It was only with age that I began to understand what I wanted.

- When it comes to sailing, do you also decide to some extent?

- I had scoliosis, so I was offered a section. I was nine years old at the time. When I came to training, all my peers already knew how to swim, I did not. There was even a panic, but I managed to overcome it. A year later, everything changed. I had the data for swimming, and because of my height, I was able to quickly catch up with one-year-olds and even get around them. Then I got into the group to the older guys, began two training sessions, the first of which started at six in the morning. I was tired, but everything was in moderation. In adolescence, there is much more strength - now, probably, such a regime would not stand. It was difficult, but it all bore fruit.

- Did you stop at the butterfly?

- First I swam on my back, then I was transferred to the crawl, then I fulfilled the master of sports standard. When I was 19, I joined the national team. But a stopper has begun in the crawl. I showed up for the tournament on the “little” water on the “half” butterfly and shot – qualified for the European Championship. From that moment on, I could say, I decided. Now I can swim as a rabbit, but it's more for the soul.

- "Politinnik" - your favorite distance? Are you able to think about something in the short time it takes you to overcome it?

- You don't have to think, it just gets in the way. It’s a favorite distance and everything matters. Technique, attitude, even stars – everything matters. It is believed that the “half” is a kind of lottery. I think it is. Have you ever had an athlete in your family?

- On Dad's side, the whole family is track and field athletes. Grandpa was engaged in all-around, grandmother ran 200 and 400 meters, Dad - too. Mom played volleyball at school, her parents were not involved in sports. My younger sister tried herself in swimming, but did not study for long: she is interested in studying, languages. Through swimming, I met my wife. It happened in Cyprus, when our teams – she is from Latvia – came to the training camp at the same time.

- You recently returned from a vacation. How did you do it?

- It's time to rest. My wife and I visited Tallinn, Riga and Rome, actively spent time, saw and learned a lot of new things. Impressions! So emotions and charge are enough, motivation is also over the edge.

- The World Cup will be held in Beijing in early December. Have you been there before?

- Many times. I like China a lot. There are gorgeous swimming pools, very polite and professional staff, everything is clear: you understand that there will be no delays. And during the competition there are a lot of spectators, in China they love sports. To perform in such an entourage is always pleasant - it adds drive.