Спорт

From 21 to 31 August in the small resort town of Mieu, located in southern France, was held another European championship in swimming sports for veterans. In addition to swimming starts in a pool, there were also competitions in jumping in water and swimming in open water (river, sea, lake, canal, etc.). Contestants over 35 years old participate in these championships, there is no upper age limit.
Bulgaria and in particular Velingrad were also represented at the European Championship in the person of Alla Kostadinova, wife of the well-known swimming coach and chairman of Dolphin-96 Georgi Kostadinov. Swimming lovers and those who know swimming history well should remember the Russian swimmer Alla Grebennikova, as is the paternal name of Mrs. Kostadinova. She is a multiple participant at world, European championships and the Olympic Games. A two-time world record holder in the 100 and 200 m breaststroke, she won the silver and bronze medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico, she was a prizewinner at the 1970 European Championships in Barcelona. Alla Kostadinova regularly participates in competitions for veterans and for this championship has received a special invitation from the Organizing Committee. She took part on behalf of Bulgaria in the 50, 100 and 200 m starts, and together with three other Russian athletes she swam in the mixed relay (or relay mix) with which they won first place. All athletes ranked in prize places were awarded with specially made medals. The organization was perfect, and in addition to the sports race, most of the 3,500 participants could also get acquainted with the sights and interesting places in southern France. And at this veteran competition, there were marginal age participants, which is a normal thing for swimmers. In the group of women between 90 and 95. 5 contestants participated in the 800 m open water swimming event. The winner became a Spanish woman, in whose passport against the year of birth is written 1910. This is not the oldest competitor at all, because at a previous championship there was a participant of 101. These facts are further evidence that sports and swimming in particular not only strengthen health, but prolong life and improve its quality until old age.
Georgi Stoyanov