UPDATED 2 January 2019: added Jaroslav Kroš’s photo gallery and Jaromír Váňa’s video.

On St Stephen’s Day, the traditional 26 December date, the Alfred Nikodem Memorial returned. I. plavecký klub otužilců Praha organised the 72nd edition of the Czech Republic’s largest, oldest and best-known cold-water swimming event. On Wednesday morning, the area around Slovanský Island welcomed competitors with a pleasant air temperature of 2.5°C and even more pleasant water at 4.5°C. The country’s growing enthusiasm for cold-water swimming was evident in another record turnout: a final total of 398 swimmers. Alongside people from across the Czech Republic, swimmers from Australia, Belgium, Spain, Poland, Germany, Russia, the USA, England and Slovakia entered the Vltava.

Swimmers used the facilities at Žofín Palace, a neo-Renaissance building listed as a national cultural monument, and started from a pontoon at the island’s tip. Commentator Michal Štěrba and event director Tomáš Prokop welcomed participants and several thousand spectators from the pontoon in front of the National Theatre. Prague 1 Mayor Pavel Čižinský and Czech Swimming Federation president Petr Ryška also gave opening remarks. As every year, the distances were 100, 300 and 750 metres. The longest, contested for the thirteenth time in the event’s modern history, was as exciting as ever, with 106 swimmers — 84 men and 22 women. Outstanding open-water swimmer Lenka Štěrbová, competing as a guest member of the host club, won for the fifth time, finishing twelve seconds ahead of the fastest man, Jakub Kočař (Fides Brno). Pavlína Nováková (I. PKO) and Renata Nováková (SCPAP) were second and third among the women. Jiří Polanský (I. PKO) took men’s silver, followed by Petr Šlajs (I. PKO). The shorter, untimed courses — the 100-metre Štěpán Polák Memorial and 300-metre Oldřich Liška Memorial — also welcomed unaffiliated swimmers. There were plenty this year: exactly 101! The 100 metres was completed by 127 swimmers, 91 men and 36 women; the 300 metres by 165, comprising 112 men and 53 women. Actor Jiří Langmajer swam the 100 metres, as he has in recent years. Another notable participant was Tomáš Kraus, former national ski cross and alpine skiing representative, Olympian and current coach of Czech snowboarder Eva Samková. The oldest participant was once again the host club’s Boženka Černá, whose lovely smile and charm captivated everyone at almost 89. The youngest were ten-year-olds Anna Málková and Jakub Chytil. Jakub’s father, Jaroslav Chytil, was also there. This year he became the first Czech man to cross the formidable North Channel between Northern Ireland and Scotland. Exceptional swimmer Abhejali Bernardová also honoured us with her visit. This year she became the fourth woman, tenth person and first person from a landlocked country to complete the Oceans Seven challenge — seven demanding crossings around the world. She finished with a successful Cook Strait swim in February.

The event was supported by Mladá fronta a.s., Etewa s.r.o., SUPTel a.s., BYTOSTAV s.r.o., Born To Swim, s.r.o., Fiskars, Agama Diving , the Czech Union of Sport , Prague City Hall and the Prague 1 district, our traditional co-organiser. Partners contributed funding and valuable prizes for competitors and the raffle, including books, swimming equipment and household and garden tools. The Memorial again formed part of the Czech Union of Sport’s “Sportuj s námi” programme.

The awards ceremony took place in Žofín Palace’s Small Hall. We were delighted to welcome newly elected Prague 1 Mayor Pavel Čižinský, who addressed the gathering and congratulated both winners and all participants. He presented the Prague 1 Mayor’s Cup to the club with the fastest trio in the main 750-metre race. As last year, it went to I. plavecký klub otužilců Praha. Mayor Pavel Čižinský and federation president Petr Ryška then presented the remaining prizes together.

Our club welcomes growing interest in both competitive and recreational cold-water swimming. We warmly invite you to our traditional cold-water swimmers’ baptism on Sunday 6 January 2019 at 10:30, in the Vltava channel beside the Kotva campsite in Prague-Braník.