Three gold medals is an incredible feeling: Dmitriy Balandin

Three times champions of the Asian Games Dmirtiy Balandin from Kazakhstan  talked about his best performance in an interview with Vesti.kz.

Dmitriy Balandin: The victory was not an easy one. We worked very hard. I am happy that all of it was not futile. Winning three gold medals is an incredible feeling I cannot put into words. I want to thank everyone who supported me, my parents, friends and, certainly, my coach. I am grateful to everyone who contributed to my trainings.

Vesti.kz: Did you expect the victories?
Dmitriy Balandin: When I was going to the Asian Games, I wanted to win a bronze medal tops. But my final results surpassed all the expectations. When I won the first medal I was very happy and euphoric for two days. When I got the third gold, I felt drained and had no strength even to smile.

Q: Online you are called Kazakhstani Michael Phelps and there are rumors that Americans have invited you?
A: It is a very kind comparison. But I have a very long way to go before I get to his level. As for the Americans, there were no such offers. (Laughs)

Q: Why did you choose swimming?
A: I was brought to swimming classes by my parents when I was 5. They just wanted me to learn to swim. But I was noticed there by trainers and they offered me to train professionally.

Q: What do you plan to do now?
A: There is the World Championship in the end of the year. But as of now, I just want to relax.

Baladin won Men's Breaststroke 50m, 100m and 200m at the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea. He set two records at the Games. He swam 50m breaststroke in 27.87 seconds and 200m breaststroke in 2.07.67.

By Gyuzel Kamalova