The Czech Association of Swimming is preparing send 14 nominees to compete in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, at the upcoming FINA World Swimming Championships held December 3-7.
This year’s nominations are as follows:
Men (8 total)
Martin Baďura
Petr Bartůněk
Roman Dmytrijev
Pavel Janecek
David Kunčar
Ján Kútnik
Jan Micka
Jan Šefl
Women (6 total)
Simona Baumrtová
Tereza Grusová
Petra Chocová
Anna Kolářová
Lucie Svěcená
Barbora Závadová
Out of these athletes, Simona Baumrtová and Barbora Závadová are medal hopefuls at Worlds. Baumrtová specializes in the backstroke events. She was the first female Czech swimmer to break the one minute barrier in the long course 100m Backstroke. She competed in the 100m and 200m Backstroke at the 2012 London Olympics, setting new Czech records in both (59.99; 2:10.03). During the last World Swimming Championships held in Istanbul in 2012, she claimed a bronze medal in the 100 SCM Backstroke in a time of 57.18, setting a national record and achieving her first international medal. Baumrtová lowered her SCM time and the national record to 56.28 at the 2013 European Championships in Herning, Denmark this past December. She is also the defending European short course champion in the 50 Backstroke.
Baumrtová’s best times include:
50m Backstroke 28.20
100m Backstroke 59.84
200m Backstroke 2:09.92
Závadová is an IM specialist with strong times in all four strokes. She recently competed in Porto, Portugal at the 31st International Meeting of Porto in June. She won the women’s 400m IM in 4:44.21, setting a meet record. She claimed a win the 200m Breaststroke in a time of 2:34.04 and in the 200m Backstroke in 2:15.37. She also won the 200m IM by nine seconds, finishing in a time of 2:16.09, a new meet record.
Závadová’s best times include:
200m Breaststroke 2:34.04
200m IM 2:13.24
400m IM 4:36.96