Milan Stencl of PK Zabreh holds a nice streamline shape in the 3c water
After the drama of the previous week in Hradec the Ticha Orlice was flowing fast enough that there was no chance of anything but a downstream ride. The water may have been just 3c but quite frankly the 750m test held no fears for the experienced winter swimmers although judging by the expressions on exiting the water this point is debatable!
furthermore it just goes to show how much the human body can adapt and overcome. In winter water (sub 4c) it doesn’t matter how big or small the distance is, when you see the finish you want it just as badly. A few years ago a little known (at least outside the Czech Republic) winter swimmer made a demonstration and swam for just over an hour in the 2c river, He swam round and round in short circles so he really couldn’t see the finish to start wanting it. There would be none of that today with all the swimmers in the 750m completing the course in less than 16mins. The winnner was Elsisk Novotna of Fides Brno who managed to get home in just 9m 13. Yet again a young female (only 19) upstaging the gents in extreme cold water swimming. (I have noted thismany times before and am bearing it in mind for another project.) She was followed by Petr Tomasek of 1.PKO Praha who just held off Milan Stencl of PK Zabreh.
No mistaking the starting place here!
So after a couple of the trickier early season contests Chocen proved as suspected to be slightly less of a challenge and why not, winter swimming is primarily about enjoyment and not every week has to present a huge challenge, with likely cold weather in the new year there will plenty more opportunities for that.
Off they go in the 750m
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