Updated 28 May 2018 with Nikola Kopecká’s video.
In autumn 2017, I asked all our winter swimmers to consider entering the competition in Germany. Held in early January, it is very well organised and attracts many international swimmers. I also wrote to everyone about Estonia, which hosts this year’s IWSA World Championships. Only a few I. PKO members entered the German event; 27 of us are going to Tallinn.
We left for Germany on the morning of Friday 5 January, a journey of about three hours. Everyone was ready at the agreed meeting time. Our penultimate Czech stop was a petrol station in Hořovice, where we collected Pavlína Procházková. Our team was now complete: Niki Kopecká, Vicky Mori, Mama Mori, Pavlína Procházková, Honza Bendl, Zdeněk Sláma and me.
We travelled in two cars, stopped for a snack at Rozvadov and continued through light rain to Veitsbronn in Germany. This is the birthplace of one of the fastest English Channel swimmers, Christof Wandratsch, and a place where he lived and trained. Veitsbronn has the Veitsbad outdoor pool in lovely surroundings. Its stainless-steel pool was clean and, at this time of year, nicely cold — just under 4°C. We registered, had our medical checks and went to our accommodation. Christof had arranged for us to stay with local families. Our hosts were wonderfully welcoming and hospitable, looked after us beautifully and asked for nothing in return. We brought them some glasses and wine. Niki stayed with Pavlína, Vicky with her mum, me with Zdeněk, and Honza on his own. He was closest to the pool and could walk there; the rest of us drove. Just before the first event, a grand opening ceremony brought together all the participating nations — around 20 from across the world, with over 200 swimmers. We won medals in the very first event, Friday evening’s 1,000 metres. After dinner at the nearby shooting club, we returned to our hosts, chatted and went to bed early — around midnight! Saturday’s racing did not begin until around lunchtime. The programme was packed and we each swam our distances. Niki was the big surprise, collecting medal after medal. The results made it clear that she would be our most successful swimmer here. We completed the 200- and 100-metre events, with Vicky also frequently on the podium. After Saturday’s programme we returned to the shooting club for dinner, this time a buffet for 300 people. This time we really did go to bed earlier, as Sunday’s racing started in the morning. Sunday featured the 500 metres, 50-metre races and the superfinals from both Saturday and Sunday. Niki therefore had to swim six times — six separate trips into the water, one race after another. We admired the way she managed it all with a smile. After the awards, we set off home with medals from every one of Vicky’s starts, Niki’s haul, and some for Pavlína and me too. Despite excellent performances, Honza and Zdeněk missed the podium in age groups with strong German competition. They still thoroughly enjoyed the meet, and Zdeněk reached the 100-metre breaststroke superfinal. I did not qualify for any superfinal.
I recommend this competition for its atmosphere and excellent organisation. You meet swimmers from many countries and make contacts and friendships that can lead to further winter swimming events around the world. On the way home, we stopped at Rozvadov again, then only at Hořovice and home.
It was a great competition. We are already looking forward to next year.
Results
Results — German Open — day 1 ↗
Results — German Open — day 2 ↗
Results — German Open — day 3 ↗
Video
Video by Nikola Kopecká