MOSCOW — Russia’s swimming star and Olympic medal hope Anastasia Zueva’s route to the top of her sport has been anything but easy.
Backstroke specialist Zueva (22) will want to overcome the disappointment of narrowly missing out on medals in her best events of the 100m and 200m in the 2008 Beijing Games and injury problems that wrecked her 2010 season.
But the waters have not always been smooth for the young Russian from the Moscow region of Voskresensk, who moved to the city of Penza 600km east of the capital at a young age to persue her dreams.
In her early career, coaches were even doubtful that Zueva had any potential for a swimmer, saying she appeared to have completely the wrong physique and technique.
Zueva started her swimming training at the age of five, when her mother brought her to the pool at Voskresensk, a small town 90km away from Moscow.
She experienced problems with extra weight, while her first coach Vladimir Zaitsev suffered from poor health and was often ailing.
Natalia Kozlova, a top Russian swimming trainer, who is currently coaching Zueva, said she was not inclined to waste time on the plump youngster at first.
“Nastya was a stoutish girl and didn’t look like a swimmer at all,” Kozlova said. “And her swimming technique looked awkward.
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“But when she jumped into the pool I was stunned how excitedly she battled, trying not to lose to any of her rivals. And when I saw how radiant her eyes were I understood. It’s worth working with this girl.” After a long conversation with the coach, Zueva’s mother gave her permission for moving from Voskresensk to Penza.
The months of hard work with the new coach soon paid off and at the age of 16 Zueva became one of the country’s most promising young swimmers.
She set two world best marks in 50m backstroke, but the results were not recognised as world records by the world swimming ruling body Fina because of the use of the polyurethane swimsuit. Then came the Beijing Olympics where Zueva narrowly failed to win a medal, finishing fourth over 200m and fifth at 100m.
But she believes her first Olympic experience will help her in London.
