European Aquatics President Antonio Silva welcomed the return of the European Short Course Swimming Championships to Poland next year as he officially invited swimmers to attend during a press conference at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) underway in Budapest.
Standing alongside the Polish Swimming Federation President Otylia Jędrzejczak – who won world titles either side of Athens 2004 gold in the 200m butterfly – Silva reflected on the last time Poland hosted this event, at Szczecin in 2011.
“It was a long time ago when Poland last hosted a top EA event” Silva told the media gathering in the Duna Arena. “Fourteen years are a lot, so it was time to return to this beautiful country and I’m grateful for Otylia and the federation to stage this great event.
“Let’s hope we’ll have more records there as well as European swimmers are doing really well this year and I’m sure they will do in 2025 too.”
Jedzrejczak said it was “really thrilling” to be talking about next year’s event in Poland a day after witnessing seven world records being set during Day One of the World Aquatics short course event.
“We have a very talented team whose members were very young when we had the last big swimming event back in 2011, the short-course Europeans in Szczecin and now they can show their quality in a home meet”
She added that the European Short Course Championships will be a flagship event to advertise Poland across the continent, working in co-operation with Poland.Travel.
Event organisers had also invited Hungary’s Laszlo Cseh, star of the 2011 Championships, who is still the most decorated male athlete in the history of the European Short Course Championships, having claimed 19 titles, all in individual events.
“I have great memories from 2011,” Cseh said. “I remember that, temporarily, I was not on speaking terms with my coach in those days so I did everything on my own and I absolutely enjoyed the whole thing.
“I won three gold in my usual events, 400 IM, 200 IM, 200m fly and claimed a bronze in the 200m free which I never did before, so it was great fun and I hope it’s going to be something similar next year.”
In partnership with http://Poland.Travel the event will offer a unique chance for swimmers and fans to explore the rich culture of Poland.
