‘Only a Handful of Swimmers in Russia Have Taken Part in Such a Unique Event’

Evgeny Kanaev, Deputy Head of the Office for Integration Solutions at HSE University, took part in a continuous 24-hour swim as part of the charitable Atomic Heart campaign at the Desnogorsk Reservoir in Smolensk Oblast. Over the course of a day, without coming ashore, he covered 54 kilometres in open water.

About the Swim

This was a unique event. Firstly, by mid-May 2026 the open-water season has not yet begun in central Russia. Secondly, this charitable initiative represents hope for six-year-old Yegor Sviridovich, a boy who has been fighting for his life since birth (for more information in Russian, see here). Thirdly, our sporting event is supported by the administration of the city of Desnogorsk and the Public Council of the Smolensk Nuclear Power Plant.

This kind of swim is one of the toughest challenges an ultra-swimmer can face. Twenty-four hours in the water, no sleep or coming ashore, feeding while swimming, coping with wind and waves, spending long periods in water at a temperature of just 18°C, and constantly facing the risk of hypothermia—it is an extremely demanding physical challenge. For the entire 24 hours, you must give your maximum effort simply to keep moving forward.

Preparation was divided into four components: physical training, which included intensive workouts and night-time swims; psychological preparation to withstand 24 hours of continuous exertion; nutritional planning; and testing of equipment.

Food was supplied from the support boat. Most of it consisted of specially selected sports nutrition: gels and drinks rich in fast-acting carbohydrates, vitamins and micronutrients designed for endurance athletes, as well as home-cooked meals.

Without Sleep

During the night and even after sunrise, my eyes kept closing and I found myself swimming almost automatically. However, I would immediately force them open again because I was afraid of inhaling water. Those thoughts were enough to keep sleep at bay for a few more minutes. There was only one break, a technical stop lasting 15 minutes. Even then, I remained in the water. It came after 16 hours of swimming, when our supply of hot drinks ran out and the support team urgently replenished our stock of warm food and beverages.

I swam in intervals—one hour at a time until the evening and 45-minute stretches during the night. In total, there were more than 24 feeding stops. During these short pauses, I managed to rest by floating on the waves with the support of my buoy.

Overcoming the Challenge

I have completed many marathons and ultra-marathon swims, but I had never attempted a 24-hour swim before. I prepared according to my training plan, but training can only bring you to the threshold of a challenge that ultimately outweighs all your preparation combined. Previously, I had completed 181 kilometres in the X-WATERS Samara 181 event. However, that was a five-day challenge involving daily swims of between five and twelve hours, with overnight recovery breaks.

In the 24-hour swim, strong headwinds and heavy waves battered my shoulders during the first 15 kilometres, draining my strength and causing a persistent ache with every stroke. The water remained calm for almost the entire remainder of the distance, but by then it no longer made much difference. Our shoulders were begging for mercy. Time seemed to slow down, especially during the night, when it felt as though the clock itself had fallen asleep.

The Team

In events like this, the sense of being part of a team is incredibly important. It is the support of the person who spends all 24 hours alongside the swimmer in the escort boat, organising meals and keeping an eye on you. It is the firm handshake from your supervisor and the words ‘I believe in you.’ It is the encouragement of colleagues from HSE University—staff, faculty members, and students alike. It is the support of my swimming team and my coach, and simply the knowledge that you are not swimming alone.

After the Finish

At first, there was an enormous surge of energy. The fatigue disappeared instantly, as if by magic. There were hugs with friends and fellow participants, an interview with the local newspaper, and a meeting with representatives of the Public Council of the Smolensk Nuclear Power Plant—and I still had enough energy for all of it. I was very proud of having completed the challenge, because only a handful of swimmers in Russia have ever taken part in such a remarkable and demanding event.

I have reached the goal. Now it is time to recover and start planning new victories, because both mind and body are already craving another dose of adrenaline. At the moment, I am thinking of a few new options: swimming 100 kilometres along the Neva River and through the Baltic Sea from Lake Ladoga to Kronstadt; crossing Lake Baikal; or exploring thousands of other untouched waters across our vast country. All of these are worthy goals after completing a 24-hour marathon swim.

However, you don’t need to take thousands of strokes or cover dozens of kilometres through the night to experience the joy of swimming and draw inspiration from the sport.

A team of swimmers is currently being assembled by Sergey Fedorovtsev, Director of the HSE Sports Community Support Centre, with the support of HSE First Vice Rector Anna Tyshetskaya. Students, faculty members, and staff who are passionate about swimming are invited to take part in the first HSE Team Swim, which will be held on June 27, 2026, in the city of Murom as part of the amateur X-WATERS event.

HSE University will provide transport for participants from the Pokrovsky Bulvar campus to Murom. Further details and registration are available via the event link (in Russian). More information can also be found on the HSE Sports Community Support Centre channels on Telegram and МАХ (both in Russian).

June 15

Sport