On 9 April 2016, Zářičí hosted the final race of the Czech Winter Swimming Cup season. The weather was unkind: constant rain, water at 10.7°C and air at 8°C. A total of 120 swimmers from seventeen clubs competed over 100, 250, 500, 750 and 1,000 metres. I. PKO’s top-three finishers in this final event were Jakub Valníček (third, 1,000 m), Adolf Goebel (first, 500 m) and Jan Slabý (third, 250 m).
2015/2016 winter-season awards
The last race was special because the season’s overall club standings and individual age-category results were announced afterwards. We took our customary second place among the clubs, as in recent years, behind FIDES Brno and ahead of Haná Prostějov. Our individual age-category medallists were Tomáš Pilát (third), Jakub Valníček (third), Radmila Srbová (second), Ivan Landa (third), Marie Štanglová (second), Eva Havlíková (third) and Barbora Vobořilová (second). In all, 28 I. PKO swimmers finished in the top ten of their age groups.
Looking back, I. PKO’s swimmers performed well as usual. Given the club’s large membership, however, we could certainly do better, at least in the number of top-ten age-category finishes. Recent seasons suggest a long-term emphasis on broad, recreational participation rather than intensive, competitive winter swimming. It may be worth reconsidering that strategy and systematically developing both sides: the central ideas of recreational winter swimming — cold adaptation, physical resilience and overcoming personal limits — alongside a strong group of competitive swimmers. Results at home and abroad would clearly help raise the club’s profile. Good performances would also support recruitment, sponsorship, swimmers’ motivation and everything else that follows sporting success. This will surely be discussed at our next regular club gathering, the campfire celebrating the end of the 2015/2016 season in Braník. Bring your ideas and suggestions — and see you by the water soon!
Ivan Landa’s photo gallery
Photo gallery by Jiří Kuřina
