Swimming-Final day haul lifts Russia's neutral athletes to fifth at world championships

Swimming - World Aquatics Championships - Men 50m Backstroke Final - World Aquatics Championships Arena, Singapore - August 3, 2025 Gold medallist Neutral Athletes B's Kliment Kolesnikov celebrates on the podium REUTERS/Hollie Adams

(Reuters) -Kliment Kolesnikov's gold in the men's 50m backstroke and a victory in the men's 4x100 medley relay on Sunday saw Russia's neutral athletes take fifth place in the medals tally on their return to the swimming world championships in Singapore.

The Russian Olympic Committee was banned for violating the Olympic Charter in relation to Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but sports such as swimming have gradually welcomed more Russians back into the fold as neutrals.