Alfred Nikodem Memorial 2014 – First Prague Cold-Water Swimming Club

After another year, cold-water swimmers gathered again on Slovanský Island for their oldest organised event, the Alfred Nikodem Memorial. Once again there was a participation record. The huge increase of the previous year was not repeated, but three extra swimmers were enough to bring the final total to 290. The special standing of what is by far the Czech Republic’s largest cold-water swimming event was confirmed by its inclusion in the Czech Union of Sport’s “Sportuj s námi” project, making Czech Railways the event’s main partner.

Eighty-four swimmers lined up for the longest race, 750 metres, the memorial’s only timed competitive distance. The field was full of big names. Alongside defending winner and Czech international long-distance swimmer Lenka Štěrbová, SCPA Pardubice, was Rostislav Vítek, Fides Brno, the most successful Czech long-distance swimmer to date and now national coach, making his debut in this Vltava event. The contest between coach and national-team swimmer most entertained the several thousand spectators beside the National Theatre. The two favourites swam the two-lap course side by side, with defending champion Lenka Štěrbová touching first in 9:18. Rosťa Vítek had to settle for “only” the men’s victory. Behind them came the second and third women, Magda Okurková, Fides, and Renata Nováková, SCPAP, followed by the other men’s medallists, Petr Tomášek, I. PKO Praha, and Roman Křupka, PK Zábřeh.

For the third time, the programme included the Prague 1 Mayor’s Cup, calculated from the combined placings of each club’s three best swimmers. Mayor Ing. Oldřich Lomecký attended to present it personally. After two Fides Brno victories, Sport Club Plaveckého areálu Pardubice celebrated this time, through Lenka Štěrbová, Renata Nováková and Iveta Nováková. Fides Brno were second with Rostislav Vítek, Magda Okurková and Martin Homolka, followed by hosts I. plavecký klub otužilců Praha with Petr Tomášek, Jakub Valníček and Tomáš Pilát.

A new award was the Cup of the Director General of Czech Radio, Mgr. art. Peter Duhan. It went to the most persistent swimmer: whoever spent longest on the 750-metre course while remaining within the time limit. Following this year’s rule change, with water at 6.4°C, that limit was 26 minutes. Karel Paul of Klub Ledních Medvědů Praha earned the award and trophy by completing the course in 24:32. All 84 entrants over the longest distance finished successfully.

Once the longest race was over, more than two hundred other swimmers entered the Vltava for the untimed 100 and 300 metres. Among them was popular actor Jiří Langmajer, a new member of the host club, who swam 300 metres alongside his father, Jiří Langmajer Sr.

After everyone had finished and the results had been quickly processed, the awards began. For the first time, they took place in Žofín Palace’s Small Hall, a magnificent setting for the occasion. The three leading men and women took home beautiful trophies crafted by Czech glassmakers at Crystal Poděbrady, donated by Czech Railways, the principal partner of the Czech Union of Sport’s “Sportuj s námi” project, and presented by Czech Union of Sport representative JUDr. Karel Kocura. Winners in both categories also received wellness-break vouchers from another major partner, Oborová zdravotní pojišťovna.

As last year, the awards were followed by a raffle open to all active participants. The only condition for claiming a prize was being present in the hall during the draw. This year’s raffle prizes came from Oborová zdravotní pojišťovna, with wellness-break vouchers, and Agama, with cold-water swimming caps.

Popular actor, director and “Sportuj s námi” patron Jakub Kohák attended the entire competition, awards and raffle. He also took on the role of co-commentator for the presentations and draw, adding considerable entertainment. Afterwards, he cheerfully posed for photographs with every swimmer who asked and signed dozens of autographs, contributing to the festive afternoon’s warm atmosphere.

Swimmers then began heading home, leaving the organisers to clean up and finish the results and other paperwork. The curtain finally fell on the 68th Alfred Nikodem Memorial. The next edition will take place at the same venue on 26 December 2015.

P.S. We will again organise two other Czech Winter Swimming Cup races this season. First is Braník Ice, on the stretch of Vltava beside our clubhouse on 31 January 2015. The other is one of the season’s two main highlights: the Czech Winter Swimming Breaststroke Championships, hosted for the third consecutive year by Podolí Swimming Stadium’s unheated outdoor pool on Saturday 28 February 2015.

Partners of the 68th Alfred Nikodem Memorial