The German National Youth and Junior Championships will take place between June 2nd to 6th in Berlin. More than 700 females and 800 males are going to swim 5000 races overall over the 5 five days – swimming the World Championships event program with prelims and finals (except the 800 and 1500 m freestyle). But next week the fastest German teenagers will also be looking to reach qualification standards for several international swim meets in 2015:
The European Youth Olympic Festival in Tiflis from June 12 – 28. It is the top multi-sport event for young European athletes between the age of 14 and 18. The so-called EYOF’s are held under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee. At German Youth nationals there is a special age group – appropriately named in the short form EYOF – in which it is possible for swimmers born in 2001/2002 (women) and 1999/2000 to qualify for the European Youth Olympic Festival. The swimmers must compete at German nationals and German Youth nationals and the German Swimming Association (DSV) will then suggest a team to the German Olympic Association (DOSB).
Later this year, the 1998- up to 2001-born women and 1997- up to 2000-born men can get into the roster for the Junior World Championships held in Singapore – the basis for a nomination are the results at Junior European Championships (Baku, 18. – 28. June, team has already been selected) and the European Youth Olympic Festival.
2015 is a great stage for all the young German swimmers with so many opportunities to compete against Europe’s and the world’s best swimmers. The fast Berlin pool of the “SSE Schwimm- und Sprunghalle im Europapark” will see some fast perfomances – without doubt it is one of the fastest pools in Europe. In addition to the common swim program, there will be a combined event which contains: 50 m back-, breast-, dolphin- or crawl kicks with a kick board (except backstroke); 100 m in the chosen style full stroke; 200 m IM and 400 m Freestyle. The swimmers will get FINA points and of course top scorers will win the titles in the combined event.