The Czech Republicâs most recognised long-distance swimmer Yvetta HlavĂĄÄovĂĄ â the womenâs world record holder for fastest time across the English Channel â has begun a second attempt to tackle the Czech Republicâs famous Vltava River.
Last year, enduring chilly waters and the occasional drowned rat, she swam Latest news - 20-07-2008 ...
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Latest news - 23-04-2008 ... 138 kilometres from TĂ˝n nad Vltavou, in southern Bohemia, to Prague, in a record seven days. This year, she set out to tackle the waters again â but with one difference: this time sheâs swimming upstream.
On Sunday 32-year-old Czech swimmer Yvetta HlavĂĄÄovĂĄ began the first of seven stages of her 2008 Vltava Tour: her attempt to re-tackle the Czech Republicâs most famous river, this time upstream. Proceeds from a related auction of the swimmerâs swimsuits, will go to charity, helping children in Kenya. Ms HlavĂĄÄovĂĄ hit the water on Sunday, beginning at Pragueâs waterside Ĺ˝lutĂŠ LĂĄznÄ. Before the event, I asked her to tell me more about the next seven days:
âIâm trying to do better than last year, which is why this time around I want to swim the Vltava River up-river. Itâs difficult because you are going against the current with a speed of three kilometres. Every day will be hard: from 15 â 26 kilometres, which is unusual: different from if you are training four hours daily in a pool and if you are six hours in a river! Itâs also stressful because many people are watching you. I will only really be sure âabout meâ in the end. Weâll see.â
What is the Vltava like as a river? Another journalist mentioned you ran into a number of drowned rats last yearâŚ
{laughs} âYeah, of course you can run into the occasional dead fish or stuff like that but the Vltava is a beautiful river, especially outside of Prague. Itâs very cold in places: the temperatures in the water range from just eight to 26 degrees Celsius, so sometimes it will be really, really chilly. On the other hand, Iâm used to such conditions, so I should be okay.â
Amateur swimmer have also been invited to join you at stages: how well do you think they will be able to keep up?
âThat should be fun: I think that some should try and swim with me. I hope they can keep up for maybe 50 metres. I am a professional so I much faster. But they should try, even if itâs difficult!â
If everything goes according to plan Ms HlavĂĄÄovĂĄâs Vltava Tour will continue throughout the week and wrap-up at TĂ˝n nad Vlatvou on Saturday, July 26. If youâd like to see her in action, more information on the Tour is available at www.yvett.cz.
(radio-Prague)
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