UPDATED 1 January 2022: added a report from Indian television channel WION (source: Reuters).
The 75th anniversary edition of the Alfred Nikodem Memorial took place, as usual, on Boxing Day on Slovanský Island in the heart of Prague. Once again, swimmers had the chance to swim beneath the National Theatre — and for some, to fulfil a cold-water swimming dream.
This year’s coronavirus restrictions were more manageable than last year’s. In 2020, the Ministry of Health’s exemption had required the organiser to give every competitor an antigen test. This year, each participant instead had to show a vaccination or recovery certificate at registration.
After the final frosty night, the river temperature fell by a full degree, and the Vltava greeted swimmers at a lovely 3.4°C. For the first time in eight years, it was below the 4°C threshold, allowing swimmers to earn the proficiency grades needed for further Czech Winter Swimming Cup events. The Czech Republic has particularly detailed competition rules in this discipline. A total of 360 cold-water swimmers made their way to snow-dusted Prague.
The traditional opening assembly began at 11:00 on the pontoon at the tip of Slovanský Island. Event director Tomáš Prokop welcomed Czech Swimming Federation president Petr Ryška, and together they honoured this year’s successful English Channel swimmers. Two came from the host club, I. plavecký klub otužilců Praha: Kristýna Dyková and Michal Štengl. Also honoured was Abhejali Bernardová, who crossed the famous Channel for the second time, this time as part of an ultra-triathlon challenge. She followed her England-to-France swim with an 895-kilometre cycle from Calais to Cheb, then ran 182 kilometres from Cheb to Prague. Slovak swimmer Richard Nyáry, who represents Sportovní otužilci Hradec Králové in the Czech Winter Swimming Cup, was recognised too. A highlight celebrating the bright future of Czech winter swimming was the presentation to the fastest Czech English Channel relay team in history. The teenage girls from Říčany’s PLAF swimming club crossed in a superb 9 hours 39 minutes under their coach, double Olympian Sandra Kazíková. Sandra also swam in the relay. Alongside her, Kateřina Hošková, Daniela Soumarová, Emma Gebauerová, Kateřina Tomková, Barbora Prošková, Tereza Böhmová and Michaela Ulipová received the trophy.
The oldest and youngest participants were also introduced. Blanka Vyskočilová from Hradec Králové entered the icy Vltava aged 82. The youngest was just ten: Kateřina Rejzková from Holoubkov.
The 750-metre František Venclovský Memorial attracted 79 swimmers: 54 men and 25 women. Lenka Štěrbová (I. PKO) won for the eighth time, finishing in 9 minutes 10 seconds. Exactly one minute later, in 10:10, Šárka Landsmannová (I. PKO) passed between the finish buoys. Renata Nováková (SCPAP) was the third woman home. Jiří Polanský won the men’s race in 9:43, followed by his brother Vít Polanský in 10:04, both representing USK. Michal Slanina (FIDES Brno) was third in 10:45.
After the main race, the Vltava welcomed recreational swimmers who had come to enjoy the Memorial without competing. Their distances were the 100-metre Štěpán Polák Memorial and the 300-metre Oldřich Liška Memorial. The former attracted 130 swimmers, including František Kosař (I. PKO), taking part for the 51st time, and Czech Swimming Federation president Petr Ryška, representing Jihlava’s Axis swimming club. They swam to a buoy named “Boženka”, honouring Božena Černá, the oldest Czech female cold-water swimmer, who passed away in November aged 91. The 300 metres was the most popular distance, enjoyed by 151 swimmers from across the Czech Republic.
The awards ceremony took place, as usual, in the Small Hall of the neo-Renaissance Žofín Palace. For the tenth time, the programme included the Prague 1 Mayor’s Cup, awarded on the results of each club’s three best-placed swimmers. Once again, the host club won, with Lenka Štěrbová, Šárka Landsmannová and Libor Štědroň. Fides Brno placed second and Sportovní otužilci Hradec Králové third. Prague 1 Deputy Mayor and councillor for culture, sport, associations and leisure Petr Burgr presented the cup in person. Dušan Mlynarčík, co-owner and executive director of family jeweller JK Jitka Kudláčková, also attended and presented overall winner Lenka Štěrbová with the main prize, a beautiful piece of gold jewellery. Winners also received swimming equipment from Born To Swim, partnering us for the fourth time, and garden and household tools from Fiskars, which has rewarded winners for six years. Further products from these partners went to raffle winners among those attending the ceremony.
Our commentator throughout the day was Michal Štěrba, chair of the Czech Swimming Federation’s Open Water and Winter Swimming Committee and father of the overall winner.
The event again formed part of the Czech Union of Sport’s “Sportuj s námi” programme, the largest sports participation project ever held in the Czech Republic. This year’s name was Tipsport sportuj s námi!
Our long-standing partners deserve heartfelt thanks for continuing their support in these difficult and uncertain times: SUPTel, Bytostav, Born To Swim, Fiskars, Etewa, JK Jitka Kudláčková, Pražské Benátky, Prague City Hall and the Prague 1 district. Prague 1 Mayor Petr Hejma also granted the event his personal patronage.
On behalf of the organising club, thank you to everyone who took part in or supported the Alfred Nikodem Memorial. We look forward to seeing you by the water again!
Alfred Nikodem Memorial 2021 (ČT sport’s report from the 75th Alfred Nikodem Memorial)
Media coverage:
• Hundreds of cold-water swimmers test their endurance in the three-degree Vltava — iDNES.cz
• Alfred Nikodem Memorial draws 400 cold-water swimmers to Prague’s icy Vltava — Novinky.cz
• Photos: the Alfred Nikodem Memorial celebrates its 75th edition, with four hundred taking part… (lidovky.cz)
• Snow-covered Prague frames the Alfred Nikodem Memorial — Tipsport Sportuj s námi! (cus-sportujsnami.cz)
• Into the icy Vltava: the 75th Alfred Nikodem Memorial — Pražský deník (denik.cz)
• The Czech Republic’s oldest cold-water swimming race, for the 75th time | Radio Prague International
• The 75th traditional cold-water swimming race: the Alfred Nikodem Memorial on Prague’s Vltava — SportovniZurnal.cz
• TAKE A LOOK: Kladno’s cold-water swimmers join the anniversary Memorial in Prague — Kladenský deník (denik.cz)
• An icy dip: brave swimmers return for their traditional Vltava outing
• Almost 400 cold-water swimmers take a Boxing Day Vltava dip in 60 minutes at the Nikodem Memorial
• 360 swimmers join the Czech Republic’s largest cold-water swimming event in the Vltava
• ČT:D children’s news (report starts at 3:16)
Photo gallery (Jan Jirkovský)
Photo gallery (Nikola Kopecká)
