Olympic Gold Medalist Evgeny Rylov Broadcasts Retirement From Aggressive Swimming

Olympic gold medalist Evgeny Rylov has introduced his formal retirement from aggressive swimming after greater than 10 years.

In a video posted to Instagram by the Russian Swimming Federation and Rylov, the Russian Swimming Federation mentioned:

“Every nice sports activities story finally involves an finish.

For Evgeny Rylov, it was a journey of grueling coaching, overcoming challenges, and navigating the highs and lows—all culminating in triumphant victories and well-deserved accolades.

Thank you to your dedication to the game, your champion’s spirit, and the feelings you shared with hundreds of thousands of followers 💪🏻 🫂

Good luck on this new chapter of your life, Zhenya!”

Rylov was probably the greatest backstrokers on this planet from 2015 till 2022. He made his senior worldwide debut on the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, the place he received the bronze medal within the 200 backstroke, setting a nationwide report time of 1:54.60. In the 100 again, he completed seventh together with his 53.23.

The following summer time, he raced on the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, once more successful the bronze medal within the 200 backstroke in a brand new European report time of 1:53.97. He additionally certified for the ultimate within the 100 backstroke, touching in 52.74 to complete sixth.

At the 2017 World Championships, he picked up his first main worldwide gold medal, successful the 200 backstroke in one other new European report time of 1:53.61. He additionally received a bronze medal within the 400 medley relay, swimming 52.89 on the backstroke leg of the National Record 400 medley relay workforce.

He would go on to decrease the Long Course European report within the 200 backstroke a couple of extra instances in his profession earlier than setting his lifetime better of 1:53.23 on the 2021 Russian Nationals to qualify for the Olympic Team. In Tokyo, he received each backstroke occasions, swimming an Olympic report 1:53.27 within the 200 again and a European report 51.98 within the 100 again.

He held the European report within the 100 backstroke till Italy’s Thomas Ceccon broke it en path to his 51.60 World Record, and he held the 200 backstroke report till Hubert Kos swam 1:53.19 on the World Championships final summer time.

Rylov’s final worldwide competitors was the 2021 European Short Course Championships, the place he withdrew from the meet after ending 4th within the 100 backstroke prelims, failing to advance to semifinals since he was the third quickest Russian, and 4th within the semifinals of the 200 backstroke. He withdrew earlier than the ultimate.

In March of 2022, Rylov, who can also be a workers sergeant within the Moscow Oblast Police in Lobnya, appeared on stage at a pro-war rally shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine carrying his two Olympic medals.

Shortly after his look, swimwear model Speedo introduced they might be terminating their sponsorship cope with Rylov. Just days later, he introduced he wouldn’t be competing on the 2022 World Championships in assist of Russian Paralympic Athletes who had been banned from competitors on the 2022 Winter Paralympic Games.

The similar day as Rylov’s announcement, World Aquatics (who was nonetheless working beneath FINA on the time) introduced all Russian and Belarusian athletes can be banned from the 2022 World Championships.

The following month, FINA introduced that Rylov can be suspended for 9 months attributable to his participation within the rally, although the ban was finally rendered moot by the general AQUA ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes.

Rylov continued to race in Russia by his ban and after, most just lately swimming on the 2025 Russian Nationals. There, he completed thirteenth within the 50 backstroke, 14th within the 100 backstroke, and 4th within the 200 backstroke.

While Rylov would doubtless not have been eligible to compete as a impartial athlete attributable to his public assist of the battle and asserting he would refuse to signal any political declaration that he was anti-war with a view to compete, World Aquatics lifted the ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes earlier this yr. This signifies that Rylov would doubtless have been allowed to return to the pool this summer time had he not retired.

Rylov will retire with 4 Olympic medals (2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze), eight lengthy course World Championships medals (2 gold, 3 silver, 3 bronze), and 7 SC World Championships medals (3 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze).