In Dubai, Pavel won gold in the 100m backstroke, posting a time of 50.20 seconds. Though he started the final swim in fourth, he managed in the final to outstrip his major rivals. One of the leaders of the Belarusian national team, at the tournament in Dubai, he also renewed the national 100m medley record of 52.44 seconds. The previous achievement — 53.46 seconds — also belonged to him.
At the next stage in Doha, Pavel Sankovich set up another national record in the 50m backstroke. On the final day of the competition, the swimmer won the race with a result of 23.05 seconds — seven hundredths better than his previous achievement, set during the World Cup stage in Moscow. In the finals, he beat Australian Bobby Hurley and Spaniard Miguel Ortiz-Cañavate.
Sankovich also managed to claim three more awards in Doha: silver in the 100 backstroke, bronze in both the 100m medley and 100m butterfly. He performed successfully in Beijing, earning gold in the 50m backstroke, silver in the 100m backstroke and bronze in the 100m butterfly.
This season, Pavel has also claimed several medals at European stages of the World Cup in a 25m pool, winning three medals in French Chartres, one award in Berlin and two medals in Moscow.
By Kirill Karin
