Coach Anastasia, mother of swimmer Sofia Lukhtiva, revealed that her 9-year-old daughter embodied an exceptional story of determination. They overcame travel difficulties and a long distance to participate in the Dubai International Water Championship 2026, ultimately winning two gold and one silver medal. Sofia, who lives in Voronezh, about 500 km from Moscow, undertook a complex two-day journey with several stops to reach the UAE. The Hamdan Sports Complex recently hosted the Dubai International Water Championships for four days. Over 1600 swimmers representing more than 100 nationalities, along with over 80 clubs and academies from within and outside the country, participated, highlighting Dubai's high standing in organizing major events. Anastasia shared: "The journey took almost two full days, and Sofia was tired due to the lack of direct flights from Russia; we had to travel with multiple layovers and cover a long distance from our city to the airport." She added: "We wanted to come as a full team from our city, but circumstances prevented that. However, I was determined to come with my daughter because I know the value of this championship." She continued: "This is my second trip to Dubai; I participated in the Dubai International Championship in 2014, and I knew how strong the organization and technical level were, so I wanted my daughter to experience this for herself. During the 2014 championship, I won a bronze medal."
