Even in summer, Prague’s I. PKO cold-water swimmers train regularly in the cool Vltava, whose temperature has yet to exceed 15°C despite the hot days. On Friday 22 June 2018, they met not only to swim but also to improve their Braník clubhouse. They painted the changing rooms, cleared the gutters and prepared firewood for winter, so that swimmers can warm themselves beside the stove after cold-weather training.
The 750-metre time trial
Club members and interested visitors then took part in a 750-metre time trial, conducted under winter swimming competition rules. The Vltava was 14.4°C and the air 13°C. Thirty-one swimmers tested their ability alongside their clubmates. The aim is not to win or beat someone else, but to see whether regular preparation and training are improving or maintaining each swimmer’s performance.
The men comfortably took the leading places over 750 metres, with the women following from seventh overall. Jakub Běžel, a devotee of the Total Immersion swimming method, won, followed by Martin Volf and Michael Hudson.
Radmila Srbová won the women’s race. Jana Habelová took second place more than two minutes later, followed by Jaroslava Vatalová.
I. PKO time-trial results, 22 June 2018 (in Czech)
The afternoon’s work and racing ended with a campfire: sausages to roast, friends to chat with and songs accompanied by guitar.
Photo gallery: Petr Dvořák
Photo gallery: Lucie Skokanová Mertová
Photo gallery: Alena Čápová
