'The results show that with good work in the future we are in the game for medals'

The latest results from the European Championships have shown that Slovenia's swimming team has performed well and remains competitive for medals. Neža Klančar secured sixth place in the 50-meter freestyle, finishing with a time of 24.56 seconds. She had previously qualified in seventh place with a time of 24.70 and improved to sixth in the semifinals. In the final, she placed eighth with a time of 24.69. Coach Tomaž Torkar praised her achievement, stating that qualifying for the finals was her main goal. He noted that sixth place among such strong competition is a result worth being satisfied with. Klančar missed some events due to illness, including the 100-meter freestyle and 50-meter butterfly. This absence likely cost Slovenia two additional semifinal appearances, possibly even one more final spot. Torkar expressed hope that these challenges would lead to better performances in future competitions. He emphasized that the results show they are close to achieving great success and that other athletes are gradually approaching the finals. Comparing the current performance to the previous European Championships in Belgrade, the level of competition in Paris was clearly stronger. Klančar’s time of 24.56 would have earned her gold two years ago, but this year, it was enough for sixth place. Polish swimmer Katarzyna Wasick won with a time of 23.84, while the other medalists also finished under 24 seconds. Despite the tough competition, Klančar remains the top Slovenian swimmer in history. Tina Čelik contributed to the afternoon session by competing in the 100-meter breaststroke. She set a new national record of 1:07.54 in the preliminaries, placing 14th overall. In the semifinals, she improved slightly to 1:08.04, securing 15th place. She also competed in the 50-meter breaststroke, finishing 26th with a time of 31.55. Coach Torkar acknowledged her solid performance, noting that these outings laid a good foundation for the upcoming season. He expects even greater achievements from her in the future. Primož Šenica Pavletič participated in the 200-meter backstroke, finishing in 1:59.64 and placing 28th. He also competed in the 100-meter backstroke, where he came in 55th with a time of 56.31, and the 200-meter freestyle, where he placed 61st with a time of 1:51.05. Torkar described his performance in the 200-meter backstroke as good and close to his personal best. Considering that Šenica Pavletič has spent more time on studies this year, the coach is pleased with his results and sees potential for improvement in the coming season. Sašo Boškan competed in the 800-meter freestyle, finishing 23rd with a time of 8:05.41. He also took part in the 400-meter freestyle, where he placed 30th with a time of 3:53.64, and the 200-meter freestyle, where he came in 50th with a time of 1:49.38. Torkar admitted that Boškan did not meet the expectations set for him, as his results were not at the desired level. However, he pointed out that the athlete has challenging disciplines where reaching the afternoon session means making it into the top eight. Torkar believes Boškan might perform better at the Mediterranean Games and that the effects of altitude training could become evident then. Altitude training involves exercising at high altitudes where the air is thinner and contains less oxygen. This forces the body to adapt by increasing the production of red blood cells and improving the ability to transport oxygen throughout the body. When returning to lower altitudes, swimmers benefit from enhanced endurance and aerobic capacity, which can help them achieve better results in the pool. In swimming competitions, the term "semifinal" refers to an intermediate stage between the preliminary rounds and the final. All participants qualify for the preliminary round, and the top performers advance to the semifinals. From there, the best eight swimmers move on to the final, where they directly compete for medals. This structure ensures that only the strongest competitors reach the final, providing a fair and exciting contest for spectators.