Solo Champion: Aleksandr Maltsev Triumphs at BRICS Games 2024 in Artistic Swimming

Aiden Starling

Updated Friday, June 21, 2024 at 12:00 AM CDT

The BRICS Games 2024 in Kazan, Russia, witnessed a unique victory ceremony that has captured global attention. Aleksandr Maltsev, the sole competitor in the Men's Solo Artistic Swimming category, proudly took the top spot on the podium. The event's results, prominently displayed, show Maltsev scoring an impressive 211.6542 points, securing his first-place finish.

The image of Maltsev standing alone on the podium, adorned in a white jacket with red designs, encapsulates the essence of perseverance and dedication. Despite the absence of other competitors, Maltsev's victory is a testament to his hard work and preparation. The empty second and third-place positions further highlight the solitary nature of his achievement.

Comments from viewers offer a spectrum of reactions. Some, like "I’m pretty sure this qualifies him to be defense minister at this point," add a humorous spin, while others, such as "It's lonely at the top. You non-artistic people wouldn't understand," acknowledge the uniqueness of his accomplishment. However, not all feedback is light-hearted. One commenter critically pointed out, "All jokes aside, this is an illustration of the authoritarian culture China and Russia operate under. A culture where mandates outweigh anything resembling reality or common sense."

The event's unusual circumstances have sparked conversations about the nature of competition and the broader implications of such solitary victories. One user queried, "Does winning here qualify him to compete in a higher event later?" indicating curiosity about the potential future benefits of Maltsev's win.

For those unfamiliar with artistic swimming, another comment humorously asked, "Wtf is artistic swimming? Wading?" This highlights a common lack of awareness regarding the sport, especially in its solo male category.

Despite the mixed emotions and questions surrounding the event, Aleksandr Maltsev's victory at the BRICS Games 2024 remains a notable highlight, symbolizing individual excellence in the face of unconventional competitive circumstances. As one commenter aptly summed up, "The GOAT."

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View source: Reddit

Top Comments from Reddit

CalRipkenForCommish

I’m pretty sure this qualifies him to be defense minister at this point

WhiteRaven42

All jokes aside, this is an illustration of the authoritarian culture China and Russia operate under. A culture where mandates outweigh anything resembling reality or common sense. In the free world, judges and organizers would see that there aren’t enough entrants and cancel the event. In an authoritarian culture, no one dares contradict the established mandate, regardless of reality. And remember, the extends to things like production repots and military readiness etc. Functionaries will report positive outcomes no matter what. Those reports rarely match reality. See Russia’s military performance in Ukraine.

QuarterEmotional6805

It's lonely at the top. You non artistic people wouldn't understand.

arongoss

Also came in last

CurlingTrousers

Bizarre and sad. Who’s this for? What’s the point? It’s like a Monty Python skit, except not funny

vinnygny817

I thought that it was Katie Ledeky waiting for second and third place to finish.

deadfuzzball

Does winning here qualify him to compete in a higher event later? This seems silly, but if an event qualified you for the Olympics later, or gave you the opportunity to qualify, then it's still dumb, but more practical

curiously_curious3

This was after the Russians killed their competition. Not killed as in “they killed it” but more “they killed them”

actioncheese

Wtf is artistic swimming? Wading?

TeddingtonMerson

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleksandr_Maltsev_( _swimmer) Tbf though, 211 points would have won the World Cup events this year. There’s not a lot of men doing it, but the points system means you can compare this result to how other men did in other competitions and it doesn’t look like any other men can get 211. It would have been 3rd place at the last World Cup if he competed against women.