After the conclusion of the 2014 Czech Republic Summer Championships last weekend, the Czech Federation (CSPS) has announced a team of 31 for the 2014 European Championships that begin next month in Berlin.
The country returns its three medal winners from the 2012 long course edition of this event, all women, that netted the national one gold and two bronze medals. That includes the defending champion in the 50 breaststroke, Petra Checova.
The 27-year old Chocova (she turns 28 in August) has found her stride at a much later age than most swimmers. In 2012, she won the 50 breaststroke in 31.25, which at the time was her lifetime best. In 26 months since, she’s gone faster than that time at least 13 times. With the likes of Rikke Moeller-Pedersen and Ruta Meilutyte also expected at this meet, it will be a tall task for a Chocova repeat, but Yulia Efimova’s suspension means that Chocova has a chance at a medal at least.
The other two returning medal winners are Simona Baumrtova, who earned bronze in the 100 back (1:00.57), and Barbara Zavadova, who earned bronze in the 400 IM (4:38.07).
The full roster of swimmers being sent by the Czechs is below.
| Pool men: | ||
| Petr Bartunek | Simona Baumrtová | |
| Jan Micka | Barbora Závadová | |
| Martin Verner | Petra Chocová | |
| Jan Šefl | Martina Moravčíková | |
| Tomas Havranek | Martina Elhenická | |
| Martin Baďura | Anna Kolářová | |
| Pavel Janecek | Alena Benesova | |
| Tomáš Novoveský | Anna-Marie Benesova | |
| Roman Dmytriev | Eva Jordová | |
| David Kunčar | Edita Chrápavá | |
| Ján Kútniky | Barbora Picková | |
| Antonín Svěcený | Vera Kopřivová |
| Remote men: | remote women: | ||
| Karel Baloun | Barbora Picková | ||
| Vít Ingeduld | Silvie Rybářová | ||
| Ján Kútniky | Lenka Štěrbová | ||
| Jan Micka | Jana Pechanová | ||
| Jan Pošmourný | |||
| James Tobias |