The first day of the two-day open-water meet at Lipno on 24–25 August 2013 was devoted to mixed 4 × 2 km relays. We rallied and entered two teams in the oldest masters category, 240 years and over — naturally, the combined ages of all four swimmers. Unsurprisingly, we finished second and third behind Fides Brno. Read more…
Dear Vašek,
The news that you had physically left this world was crushing and painfully paralysing for us all. Unable to come to terms with it, I got on my bike today and rode my favourite route to Braník. As I passed our clubhouse, you were just opening the door. You smiled, climbed onto your bike and joined me. Read more…
For a while, it looked as though the Mělice races would be cancelled because of the cold, just like the previous two rounds of the Czech Open-Water Swimming Cup. In the end, only Sunday’s programme was cancelled. On Saturday 8 June 2013, the 5 km championships and three-person Team Event went ahead. We had glorious sunshine, water between 18 and 20°C — yes, it varied along the course — and excellent spirits. I. PKO sent five swimmers, all in masters categories. Read more…
The Vltava was expected to peak on Monday 3 June 2013, so it was hardly surprising that there was limited enthusiasm for river training. A few enthusiasts nevertheless turned up to inspect the current and the new “pool” behind the clubhouse. We also searched for the fire pit in the garden, wondering whether the flood had carried it away — without success. We shall see what becomes of our late-June campfire. Read more…
PHOTO REPORT INSIDE
June brought no long-awaited warmth. Instead, the persistent cold and rain brought flooding to Prague. The unregulated Berounka, which joins the Vltava just four kilometres upstream of our clubhouse, kept adding water, while the Vltava cascade released increasing amounts. Even though our clubhouse stands relatively high compared with our neighbours, we too will be counting the damage. Read more…
Do you seem to catch every cold going, not to mention flu? Perhaps your GP has suggested trying cold-water conditioning — in other words, building a close relationship with cold water. That friendship needs to develop slowly and deepen gently. Then it may last a lifetime and help us cope better with unwelcome challenges to our immunity… Inside is an interview with Tomáš Prokop from the May issue of Moje zdraví magazine. Read more…
UPDATED WITH I. PKO SWIMMERS’ ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2012/2013
I. PKO swimmers’ achievements in 2012/2013, PDF
First of all, this was a highly successful season for our club. After many years, we once again have the overall individual winner of the Czech Winter Swimming Cup: Petr Tomášek, who narrowly finished second last year. This year he deservedly claimed his first overall victory. Read more…
Czech Television covered winter swimming’s debut in the unheated outdoor pool at the Podolí Swimming Stadium. A short clip appeared in the sports news on race day — see the end of our article about the Czech Breaststroke Championships — followed by a full report of about five minutes on Sport v regionech. It includes an interview with the oldest competitor, none other than our club’s Boženka Černá. Watch the full report below. Read more…
TV Prima’s TOP STAR magazine filmed a report on cold-water swimming with popular actor Oldřich Navrátil, a well-known enthusiast. Filming took place around our Braník clubhouse, where Oldřich and presenter Eva Decastelo prepared for their Vltava dip. Club chairman Tomáš Prokop supervised and provided expert advice. Watch the report below. Read more…
Several recent print articles have focused on our club. Svět 55+ published a feature on Míša Štěpán, describing how he discovered winter swimming and now exercises and trains every day. The Prague 12 district magazine — from the district where I. PKO member and Channel swimmer Jan Novák lives — interviewed chairman Tomáš Prokop about club life. The weekend supplement of Hospodářské noviny featured another conqueror of the sea between England and France, Richard Haan. Download all three reports below. Read more…
