The 45th Czech Winter Swimming Championships in freestyle took place on 13 February 2016. Conditions were unusually “favourable” for Brno: water at 3.1°C, compared with the usual temperatures below 2°C in previous years, and air at 7°C. The sun occasionally appeared to warm the swimmers and lift their spirits.
I. PKO swimmers turned out in force as usual: 27 competitors entered the 250-, 500- and 750-metre events. The atmosphere, organisation, racing and food maintained their customary high standard, to everyone’s satisfaction. This was certainly no “Boredom in Brno”, but a hard-fought contest in which our swimmers once again made their presence felt. Four reached the podium in their categories: Tomáš Pilát (third, 750 m), Radka Srbová and Ivan Landa (both second, 500 m), and Marie Štanglová (second, 250 m). Unfortunately, several swimmers who would surely have scored well, and perhaps added to I. PKO’s medal haul at the 2016 championships, were unable to come. Never mind!
We are already looking forward to the 46th championships and will try to win even more medals, following the ambitious swimmers’ motto, “It is winning, not taking part, that counts” — or, for most winter swimmers, “It is taking part, not winning, that counts”! The final group photograph of I. PKO’s swimmers captures the relaxed, happy atmosphere of the event.
Photo gallery: Ivan Landa
