Starting signal: 23 Austrians jump into the European Championship pool

The Austrian Swimming Association is traveling to the European Championships in Paris with a 23-strong squad consisting of four women and 19 men. On Monday, the association said goodbye to its team at the final press conference in the Vienna City Beach Club. The first part of the team is flying to France this week, the swimmers will follow next week.

What’s new this year is the opening of the European Championships to para swimmers. Austria sends along Janina Falk, Andreas Ernhofer and Andreas Onea three para-athletes entered the race, all over 50 and 100 meter freestyle.

After the successful European Championships in Belgrade two years ago, OSV President practiced Arno Pajek in restraint: With the Russian and Belarusian athletes, the international field has become fuller again, “times are changing, it won’t get any easier”. On the other hand, he draws confidence from his own offspring, who recently made a statement at the European Junior Championships in Munich.

Who goes into the water and when?

It starts on July 31st with diving, where Dariush Lotfi, Anton Knoll and Nico Schaller for the OSV start. Open Water in the Seine will follow from August 4th to 8th Luca Karl over 10, 5 and 3 kilometers. The finale will be pool swimming from August 10th to 16th with the majority of the team including Simon Bucher, Martin Espernberger and the only 18 year old Christian Giefingplus the relays and the para competitions on August 15th and 16th.