The 76th Alfred Nikodem Memorial, 2022

As much a part of Christmas in Prague as ever, the Alfred Nikodem Memorial returned on Boxing Day, organised by I. plavecký klub otužilců Praha. This was its 76th edition in the Vltava below the National Theatre. The tradition of Christmas swimming in Prague’s Vltava, however, goes back 99 years: Alfred Nikodem himself first gave a public demonstration of cold-water swimming in 1923, with just six companions, near Čech Bridge.

This year, 229 men and 121 women took part in this major, well-known cold-water swimming event — 350 swimmers in all. Alongside Czech participants, swimmers came from Slovakia, Austria, Belgium, Poland, England and even as far away as Iran.

The air was an unusually mild 8.5°C, while the water measured 4.9°C. This edition was exceptional not only for its first-ever use of electronic timing chips and a finish gantry, but also for a course layout unlike those of recent years. The Vltava was flowing strongly after a sharp rise in temperature, snowmelt and heavy rain during the preceding week. The course was therefore laid out in relatively sheltered water, in a smaller area behind Slovanský Island, away from the main current. Swimmers on the longest, 750-metre course completed four laps instead of the usual two.

At the customary 11:00, event director Tomáš Prokop welcomed the participants and Prague spectators. He is chair of the organising club, I. plavecký klub otužilců Praha, and vice-chair for winter swimming on the Czech Swimming Federation’s Open Water and Winter Swimming Committee. He was followed by Prague 1 Mayor Terezie Radoměřská, whose patronage supported the event. Together with Czech Swimming Federation president Petr Ryška, she presented glass trophies to this year’s successful English Channel swimmers, Pavlína Procházková and Michal Brauner, both members of I. PKO. Petr Ryška later swam the recreational 100 metres, as he had in the previous three years.

This year’s youngest participants were all twelve: Eliška Racková from Most, Daniel Dolín from Prague and Jáchym Vido from Dolní Břežany. The oldest swimmers were Milena Holubcová, Iva Klásková and Jiří Hájek, all born in 1947 and all members of the organising I. PKO club.

The longest course, 750 metres, is held as the František Venclovský Memorial and is the event’s only competitive distance. Lenka Štěrbová (I. PKO) won it outright, ahead of both women and men, for the ninth time, finishing in 8 minutes 8 seconds. Andrea Klementová of the Třebíč Polar Bears Club placed second among the women, followed by Renata Nováková (SCPAP).

The men’s winner over the same distance was Czech Olympian and Czech English Channel record-holder Rostislav Vítek (SppBr), in 8 minutes 24 seconds. Jiří Polanský finished second, with his brother Vít Polanský touching the finish just one second later; both swim for USK. Seventeen women and 48 men completed the 750 metres.

Next, watched by around two thousand spectators on Legions Bridge and the neighbouring Masaryk Embankment, swimmers gradually entered the cold river for the recreational distances: the 100-metre Štěpán Polák Memorial and the 300-metre Oldřich Liška Memorial. The 100 metres attracted 57 women and 77 men, a total of 134. The 300 metres was the most popular distance, with 151 swimmers — 47 women and 104 men. Many participants on these courses are not registered with a swimming club, but practise cold-water swimming independently. This year, 106 such unaffiliated swimmers took part.

After the swimming came the awards ceremony, rounded off with a generous raffle featuring valuable prizes from this year’s partners. As usual, the ceremony took place in the Small Hall of the neo-Renaissance Žofín Palace. Representing the mayor, Prague 1 Deputy Mayor David Bodeček welcomed everyone and presented the Prague 1 Cup. This team trophy is awarded on the results of each club’s three best-placed swimmers. Once again it went to the host club, I. plavecký klub otužilců Praha, represented by Lenka Štěrbová, Libor Štědroň and Martin Volf.

Before the raffle, the ten fastest women over 750 metres also received valuable pendants, thanks to event partner and family jeweller JK Jitka Kudláčková. Jitka Kudláčková presented the gifts in person.

Most people attending the ceremony took home a lovely raffle prize from this year’s partners: Born To Swim, Fiskars and the Czech Olympic Committee. These partners had also provided valuable prizes for all the medallists. Generous support from SUPTel, BYTOSTAV, Etewa and Pražské Benátky helped us deliver the event to the standard it deserves. We must also mention new partner Maso Veleň, which supplied quality sausages for the participants — refreshments that have been a hallmark of this event for decades. After two editions affected by COVID restrictions, we were delighted to bring this tradition back.

This year’s 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. As last year, it ran under the name Tipsport sportuj s námi! In addition to the Prague 1 district already mentioned, Prague City Hall also supported the event. Our thanks go to all this year’s partners.

Our experienced commentator throughout the day was, as usual, Michal Štěrba, chair of the Czech Swimming Federation’s Open Water and Winter Swimming Committee — and proud father of the overall winner. We thank him for guiding us through the event.

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!