Banja Luka Hosts Olympic Swimming Hopefuls
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| Serbian Great, Milorad Čavić |
Olympic preparations for some of the world’s top swimmers will begin in earnest when they meet in Banja Luka for the Fourth International Swimming Championships. With little over one year to go until the Opening Ceremony at London 2012, all eyes will be on the water for this international meet.
Swimmers from 18 countries will descend on the capital of Republika Srpska to participate in the Banja Luka Open 2011 (28-29 May), including Serbia, Russia, Italy, the Netherlands, Croatia, Bosnia, Greece, Estonia, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Israel, Bulgaria and Kenya.
While these swimmers are more than familiar with competing at major international championships. their sights are now set on big things around the corner. Many will be pinning their dreams on impressing national selectors and fast-tracking themselves closer to the London Olympics 2012.
Even before that momentous date in the diary, when the curtain goes up in London for the Olympic Opening Ceremony on 27 July 2012, these swimmers will be hoping to make their national teams and compete at the World Championships in Shanghai this July. The clock is already ticking if these men and women want to make it to London.
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| Serbia’s Ivan Lenđer |
National swimming representatives scheduled to compete in Banja Luka include Serbia’s Olympic veteran and three-times Serbian Sportsman of the Year Milorad Čavić. He is sure to attract the crowds, recalling his unforgettable performance in Beijing. His very special appearance will be complemented by fellow Serbian Olympics 2008 team member Ivan Lenđer, plus Čaba Silađi, Nađa Higl and Miroslava Najdanovski.
Another anticipated appearance will be from Greece’s Grigoriadis Aristidis, who won first place in the 50m backstroke at the World Championships in Montreal 2005. Besides being World Champion, he was also European Champion in the same discipline at Europe Championships in Eindhoven 2008.
Also competing in the Banja Luka Open 2011 will be Alexei Puninski and Duje Draganja representing Croatia, while Evgeny Korotyshkin, Sergey Fesikov and Vitaly Melnikov will arrive from Russia for the event. Slovenia will send Emil Tahirovič, Peter Mankoč, Matjaž Markič and Sara Isakovičm. Mattia Nalesso will swim for Italy, Joeri Verlinden will appear for the Netherlands, and the great Jason Dunford will be in the water for Kenya.
Hosting an international event of this scale is a major feat for any city but organisers at Banja Lukan swimming club OLYMP are confident that everything is on track for a successful meet. The Banja Luka Open 2011 will be screened live by the Bosnian entity’s broadcaster RTRS and it is hoped that a major marketing campaign will help develop the sport in Republika Srpska and beyond.
Hosting such a major sporting event has been made possible for Banja Luka with the opening of the city’s stunning new Olympic standard swimming pool. Since its official opening last year, this shiny new venue has proven itself as an international sporting venue.
In the run up to the London Olympics 2012, W!LD RooSTeR will be speaking with a number of athletes about their medal hopes and the lengthy preparations for the event.
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