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First Prague Cold-Water Swimming Club

The oldest and largest cold-water swimming club in the Czech Republic

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Our autumn triple event, 2020

On Sunday 20 September 2020, our Braník clubhouse hosted the year’s second “triple event”: a work party, time trial and campfire. As in spring, we began with the work party. More volunteers came this time, allowing us to get plenty done, including mowing the grass, painting the fence and cleaning the changing rooms. Miloš Paseka again directed the work. Many thanks to everyone who lent a hand. Read more…

Jiří Novák ·

Our spring triple event, 2020

On Friday afternoon, 19 June 2020, our Braník clubhouse hosted the traditional “triple event” — work party, time trial and campfire — alongside the annual club conference. The weather smiled on us all afternoon: not a drop fell, despite heavy rain in many other parts of Prague and its surroundings. There were not many volunteers, but they still completed every planned job, including mowing the grass, cutting firewood and cleaning the changing rooms. Huge thanks to these dedicated helpers, led by Miloš Paseka. Read more…

Jiří Novák ·

The 73rd Alfred Nikodem Memorial, 2019

UPDATED 5 January 2020

Added Jan Jirkovský’s black-and-white photo gallery.

UPDATED 31 December 2019

Added videos from the main ČT and TV Nova news programmes.

Boxing Day, 26 December, traditionally belongs to the Alfred Nikodem Memorial, organised by I. PKO Praha. As every year, it attracted considerable interest from competitive swimmers, for whom it was the eleventh Czech Winter Swimming Cup event, and adventurous visitors trying one of the shorter distances. With large crowds, media, sponsors and city representatives in attendance, the final total reached 433 swimmers, including 110 women. Alongside Czech participants came swimmers from Slovakia, Poland, Belgium, Russia, Great Britain, Kazakhstan and Hong Kong. Read more…

Petr Tomášek, Kristýna Dyková ·

Invitation to the 73rd Alfred Nikodem Memorial

I. plavecký klub otužilců Praha warmly invites you to the 73rd edition of the Christmas swimming event in the Vltava — the Alfred Nikodem Memorial.

This long-established and celebrated cold-water swimming event takes place on Thursday 26 December 2019, Boxing Day, at 11:00 in the Vltava beside Prague’s National Theatre. Read more…

Petr Tomášek ·

A summer four-part challenge by the Vltava, 2019

On a beautiful sunny day, with the Vltava wonderfully warm, 23 June 2019 saw our club’s traditional four-part challenge in and beside the river. The main discipline was the time trial. First came a two-hour clubhouse clean-up, then the club conference, followed by the Vltava race as the day’s sporting highlight. Finally, we replenished our energy around the campfire. Read more…

Jitka Vachtová ·

The 72nd Alfred Nikodem Memorial, 2018

UPDATED 2 January 2019: added Jaroslav Kroš’s photo gallery and Jaromír Váňa’s video.

On St Stephen’s Day, the traditional 26 December date, the Alfred Nikodem Memorial returned. I. plavecký klub otužilců Praha organised the 72nd edition of the Czech Republic’s largest, oldest and best-known cold-water swimming event. On Wednesday morning, the area around Slovanský Island welcomed competitors with a pleasant air temperature of 2.5°C and even more pleasant water at 4.5°C. The country’s growing enthusiasm for cold-water swimming was evident in another record turnout: a final total of 398 swimmers. Alongside people from across the Czech Republic, swimmers from Australia, Belgium, Spain, Poland, Germany, Russia, the USA, England and Slovakia entered the Vltava. Read more…

Nikola Kopecká, Petr Tomášek ·

Invitation to the 72nd Alfred Nikodem Memorial

I. plavecký klub otužilců Praha warmly invites you to the 72nd edition of the Christmas swimming event in the Vltava — the Alfred Nikodem Memorial.

This long-established and celebrated cold-water swimming event takes place on Wednesday 26 December 2018, Boxing Day, at 11:00 in the Vltava beside Prague’s National Theatre. Read more…

Petr Tomášek ·

Cold-water swimming is a matter of mindset

Rostislav Vítek talks to Czech Radio Brno:

Rostislav Vítek is a multiple Czech national open-water swimming champion. What was it like to swim at the Beijing Olympics? What does regular cold-water swimming do for him, and how did this year’s attempt at an English Channel swimming record turn out? Read more…

Petr Tomášek ·