St Petersburg University’s best swimmers win gold in Türkiye

The St Petersburg University swimming team demonstrated their prowess on the international stage, claiming more than half of the medals awarded. Over the course of the three-day competition, the University team consistently outperformed their rivals across nearly all disciplines, affirming their status as some of the finest student swimmers. They made a strong start on the first day of the competition, winning 28 award-winning places and laying a solid foundation for their subsequent success.

The swimmers from St Petersburg University not only maintained their momentum on the second day, but also increased their medal tally, winning an additional 28 medals and further consolidating their lead in the team championship. In the freestyle relay, the students exhibited impeccable teamwork, securing first place in both the men’s and women’s events.

The festival, organised by Boğaziçi University with the support of the Turkish National Olympic Committee, brought together athletes from over 29 universities worldwide. The participants came from Serbia, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Libya, Bulgaria, Algeria, and other countries. According to the participants, the competition vividly demonstrated high sportsmanship, international student cooperation, and the spirit of fair competition.

Vladislav Finochenko, the team coach and a graduate of St Petersburg University, said that despite the high level of competition at the sports festival, the team had surpassed last year’s results. ‘Thanks to the support of St Petersburg University’s administration, we had the opportunity to participate in this competition again. The results definitely exceeded expectations, being the consequence not only of intensive training but also of the team’s cohesion and determination. We hope to continue this tradition in the years to come,’ said the athlete.

Vladislav Finochenko added that active student involvement in the University’s sports, both as team members and as volunteers at internal events, strengthens team cohesion and fosters a sense of unity. As the coach noted, participating in such international competitions undoubtedly raises the profile of St Petersburg University on the world stage and strengthens the position of Russian student sports.

According to the results, the leader of the University team was Evgenii Rudiak, a fourth-year student in Physical Education at St Petersburg University. He won gold medals for the team in the backstroke, butterfly, and freestyle events, as well as a silver medal in the breaststroke event. Iuliia Gorbach, a second-year student in International Relations, and Aleksandra Kudriavtseva, a third-year student in Physical Education, also performed impressively, thanks to their comprehensive training. They contributed gold, silver, and bronze medals to the team’s tally by competing successfully in various disciplines. Samira Gumarova, a first-year student in Physical Education at St Petersburg University, became the champion in both backstroke and breaststroke events.

This victory further confirms the high standard of sports training at St Petersburg University and the students’ dedication to sporting ideals. This is the second consecutive year that the swimmers have demonstrated their excellence on the international stage. Last year, they also participated in the 43rd International Sports Festival in İstanbul, returning home with nine gold, seven silver, and 11 bronze medals in the individual competition. The team’s latest triumph is a well-deserved testament to their professionalism and the excellent work of the coaching staff.

‘I would like to express my gratitude to Elena Sorina, Head of the St Petersburg University Sports Club and the University’s official representative at the competition, as well as to the club administration, for their all-round support. In my opinion, international sports trips are a significant advantage of studying at St Petersburg University. The experience of international cooperation and sports competitions is invaluable for students’ development,’ said Vladislav Finochenko, the team coach.

At the International Student Sports Festival, St Petersburg University was represented by a team of students from various fields of study: Evgenii Rudiak, a fourth-year student in Physical Education; Dmitrii Kaminskii, a first-year Law student; Maksim Dovgaliuk, a second-year Law student; Iuliia Gorbach, a second-year student in International Relations; Aleksandra Kudriavtseva, a third-year student in Physical Education; Valeriia Zhiliaeva, a fourth-year Biology student; and Samira Gumarova, a first-year student in Physical Education.

Earlier, an open swimming championship dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in World War II was held at the University’s sports complex. The event was attended by 88 students from six higher education institutions in St Petersburg: St Petersburg University; Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University; Baltic State Technical University VOENMEH named after D F Ustinov; the Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia; St Petersburg State Marine Technical University; and Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping.