The 73rd Alfred Nikodem Memorial, 2019 – First Prague Cold-Water Swimming Club

UPDATED 5 January 2020

Added Jan Jirkovský’s black-and-white photo gallery.

UPDATED 31 December 2019

Added videos from the main ČT and TV Nova news programmes.

Boxing Day, 26 December, traditionally belongs to the Alfred Nikodem Memorial, organised by I. PKO Praha. As every year, it attracted considerable interest from competitive swimmers, for whom it was the eleventh Czech Winter Swimming Cup event, and adventurous visitors trying one of the shorter distances. With large crowds, media, sponsors and city representatives in attendance, the final total reached 433 swimmers, including 110 women. Alongside Czech participants came swimmers from Slovakia, Poland, Belgium, Russia, Great Britain, Kazakhstan and Hong Kong.

As usual, Žofín Palace provided the swimmers’ facilities. From there, they made their way to the start at the tip of Slovanský Island, encouraged by spectators on Legions Bridge and Střelecký Island opposite. Event director Tomáš Prokop, regular commentator Michal Štěrba and Prague 1 Mayor Pavel Čižinský welcomed competitors and spectators. The opening ceremony introduced Markéta Pechová, who in summer 2019 became the world’s first female swimmer with a disability to cross the English Channel.

The longest competitive course, the 750-metre František Venclovský Memorial, attracted 113 swimmers — 93 men and twenty women — across five heats. Everyone finished within the time limit. Almost as usual, Lenka Štěrbová, swimming as a guest member of the host club, was fastest overall in 9:08. She finished well ahead of the first man, Jiří Polanský, in 9:39. On the women’s podium, she was joined by silver medallist Šárka Landsmannová (I. PKO) and bronze medallist Pavlína Nováková (I. PKO). Lukáš Grábl (FiBr) was second among the men, followed by Vít Polanský (I. PKO).

The 300-metre Oldřich Liška Memorial was completed by 187 swimmers — 136 men and 51 women. The 100-metre Štěpán Polák Memorial attracted 133 swimmers — 94 men and 39 women. Many on the shorter courses were unaffiliated swimmers who do not yet compete, but came to try a distance out of interest or inspired by their clubmates. The Memorial is therefore also an important social occasion, bringing together people who may live far apart, across clubs and generations. The oldest participant, Boženka Černá of the host club, turns ninety in February. The youngest were the Špaček brothers, eight-year-old Jakub and ten-year-old Josef, also from I. PKO. They came with their father, and all three completed the 100 metres together.

Our long-standing partners remain loyal too. Many thanks to 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. I. PKO chair Tomáš Prokop and Mayor Pavel Čižinský presented the prizes, including the Prague 1 Cup for the club with the fastest trio in the main 750-metre race. I. PKO won with Lenka Štěrbová, Jiří Polanský and Vít Polanský. Prague 1 councillor for culture, sport and associations Petr Burgr also greeted those present and presented awards. Czech Swimming Federation president Petr Ryška took part in the whole event, from the welcome on the starting pontoon through his first Memorial swim to the awards ceremony.

This successful 73rd edition, with a record number of swimmers, will be followed by our traditional cold-water swimmers’ baptism on Sunday 5 January 2020 at 15:00. We warmly invite you to our clubhouse in Prague-Braník. New and returning swimmers, from our club and elsewhere, will be baptised in the Vltava channel beside the Kotva campsite. Anyone interested in competitive or recreational cold-water swimming is welcome.