12.7.2019

 

3.Bled Swimming Challenge 2019

The biggest open water swimming event in Slovenia with an international reach

 

It the middle of the summer, 20th July, there is going to be the third Bled Swimming Challenge in Bled in Mala Zaka. It is the biggest open water swimming event in Slovenia. Everybody can compete at it, from professional open water swimmers to individuals and families, who like to spend their free time actively. At the first event, which took place in 2007, there were 35 competitors. Last year, there were 150 swimmers and this year we plan to have more than 300 registrations.

 

The event is composed of two races: the Small Bled Swimming Challenge (1250m) and the Grand Bled Swimming Challenge (5000m). The first one is more suitable for those people to whom open water swimming is new. The second one is more appropriate for experienced swimmers and competitors.

 

The competition is a part of Austria Open Water Cup and it is the only race which isn’t Austrian. There are 8 races in this cup. More than half of the last year’s competitors were foreigners. There were also the members of the South Africa junior national team. They are coming again this year. Other foreigners were mostly from Italy and Austria.

 

In 2019, our international cooperation is becoming even stronger. The chief referee is going to be Neville Smith who comes from South Africa. He is the official FINA referee and he also refereed at the Olympics.

 

The special guests of this year’s event are going to be the swimmers from Henley on Thames. This little town from England and Bled are twinned. There is going to be a competition between these two towns which is called Cup Bled-Henley. It is wished that this cup becomes traditional.

 

There are also going to be some other special competitors at the race: Špela Perše (an Olympic athlete and last year’s winner), Annika Ericsson (the winner of the world swimrun championship) and Gaia Peracca (the two times winner of the European open water championship for veterans).

 

Bled Swimming Challenge is a great opportunity for those who have never tried open water swimming or are afraid of open water. There is going to be taken care of the safety of the swimmers with accompanying boats, divers and paramedics. There are also going to be other competitors and supporters who will instil courage to the new swimmers. Bled Swimming Challenge is appropriate for people of all ages. Last year, the youngest competitor was 8 years old and the oldest was 81 years old. The event takes places on the same day as Blejska noč which is the greatest summer entertaining event in Bled. So, it is also going to be taken care of those who like to party.

 

For more information and registration go to https://bled-swimming.com.

 

Contact us:

https://bled-swimming.com

info@bled-swimming.com

+386 40 171 562 (Juš Veličković)

 

 

The event in photos