Swimming European Championships: Jakub Maly draws a positive but also critical balance after medal

Maly's criticism of the organization

In a widely quoted statement, Maly summed up the issue: "Leute, die fünf, sechs, sieben Bewerbe haben, dann Semifinale, Finale und ein bis zwei Staffeln – die müssen sich schon selber um sich kümmern: Wie schnell komme ich durch die Mixed Zone (Interviewzone, Anm.), wie schnell komme ich ins Bett, wie sehr lasse ich mich dadurch ablenken, dass meine Eltern da sind." Indeed, a noticeable drop in performance had been observed in some athletes toward the end, according to the analysis.

Maly is therefore calling for better organization around competition days. This includes, for example, having those responsible more clearly structure the time spent in the Mixed Zone and at the poolside and giving athletes sufficient time to recover. Dealing with family members should also be professionalized, so that emotional encounters do not take place immediately before the next start.

Technically as well, the 23-year-old, who studies in Beijing, still sees room for improvement. A detailed strength development analysis carried out jointly with the coaching team showed that training control over the course of the season still needs to be more precisely tailored to major international events. A corresponding technique analysis is to be carried out on an ongoing basis in the future so that weaknesses can be identified early.

Strength development and technique analysis

As a positive example, Maly cited the Dutch team, which turned out in force at the European Championships with a large delegation and delivered consistently strong results despite the high competitive load. Austria must orient itself toward such structures if it wants to stay among Europe's top nations on a lasting basis, he said.

According to information from the team's circle, the Austrian Swimming Federation is planning in the medium term a team training camp in which the processes between events will be simulated and improved. Talks with physiotherapists and sports psychologists are also said to be in the pipeline to provide athletes with more systematic regeneration support in the future.

Consequences for further planning

Walter Bärs, who accompanied the European Championships preparation as a coach, sees the analysis as an important impetus. The findings from Maly's observations will be incorporated into the next competition planning and, above all, the load management will be recalibrated, he announced.

It is also clear, however, that Maly's medal as well as further top placings by the team had underscored the potential of Austrian swimming. The European Championships should therefore, despite all the criticism, be regarded as a success that simultaneously serves as a starting point for further improvements.

For the upcoming international tasks, including the next World Cups and, in the longer term, the preparation for the Olympic Games, it will be crucial to systematically address the identified weaknesses. Maly expressed confidence that this could be achieved together with the coaching team.

In conclusion, the medal winner emphasized that while a medal had been the immediate goal, structural further development would make the decisive difference in the long run. The team must now learn from the experiences of the European Championships and set the course for the future.