While Setting World Records, Egor Kornev Battling Back Injury; Cam McEvoy Expects Big Things from Russian Rival
Despite equaling the world record in the 100-meter freestyle and breaking a global standard in the 50 butterfly during the first two stops of the World Cup circuit, Russia’s Egor Kornev has not been in peak condition. The sprint star indicated to World Aquatics that he is dealing with a back injury that has forced him to throttle back during races, a surprising revelation based on the performances Kornev has produced.
During the first leg of the World Cup tour, Kornev clocked 44.84 in the 100 freestyle, an effort that equaled Kyle Chalmers’ world record, set back in 2021. A week later, the 22-year-old blasted a time of 21.28 in the 50 butterfly to break Noe Ponti’s global standard of 21.32. Kornev has also been the silver medalist in the 50 freestyle at both World Cup stops, finishing behind Australian Cam McEvoy.
“Well, at the very least, I’ll do my best,” Kornev told World Aquatics about the third leg of the World Cup, scheduled for Astana, Kazakhstan. “Right now I’m not in optimal shape. My back hurts badly. I have a back injury, and because of it, I can’t perform at full capacity. But I’m trying very hard, and the specialists with our national team are doing everything they can to get me back on my feet.”
McEvoy, the reigning Olympic champion and world-record holder in the 50 freestyle, has been impressed by Kornev. In addition to their duels in the 50 freestyle, the athletes have clashed in the 100 freestyle. McEvoy was the runnerup to Kornev when the Russian equaled the world record. During the second stop, McEvoy and Kornev tied in the 100 freestyle. The Aussie is eager to race Kornev this weekend, and believes his young rival is poised for a big-time showing at the World Short Course Championships in December.
“I think he’s going to go insanely fast in two months’ time,” McEvoy said of Kornev. “This is just a warmup for Egor. So I’m happy I can fight with him and be a good foe right now, but I believe that, in two months’ time, he’s going to drop something pretty special.”