Open water swimmer Lars Bottelier does not understand canceling the European Championship: “There was no danger”

Extreme weather

The start of the race was difficult, but good conditions. After about three kilometers the wind came up. This created a strong swell and waves. After eighteen of the twenty-five kilometers, the organization decided to cancel the race due to the extreme weather conditions. According to the organization for safety reasons.

“The conditions were really tough, but there was no danger. We have already swam fifteen kilometers in those heavy waves. That is very long and those waves became less so there was no reason to cancel. The race should have been finished “, Bottelier is clear.

Dramatic communication

To make matters worse, communication was also dramatic. The Italian swimmers, for example, skipped a number of eating moments and accelerated early to Bottelier’s surprise. “In retrospect, it was clear that the Italians knew that the race would be stopped. The rule is that, if the race is stopped after fifteen kilometers, the position of the swimmer is leading for the result. The Italians were then on one, two and three,” says Bottelier.

This is at odds with what the organization’s briefing was for the race. The swimmers were then told that if the race was cancelled, the jury boat would indicate this. In that case, there was one more round of full swimming. After that lap, the race would be stopped and whoever would be first would win. That was fine with Bottelier. “If you choose a scenario to cancel, then it must go as we have heard it in advance. Not in a way that one half knows what is happening and the other does not.”

In the end, the organization decided not to opt for any of the above options. In consultation with the international swimming federation LEN, it was decided not to designate a winner. “A big disappointment. We raced for nothing. I trained for this for a long time. I came out of the water fresh and want to race for what I’m worth.”