The preparations for the European Swimming Championships in Rome are being completed, when in the next day, the delegation of 17 male and female swimmers will take off in the pool, which will also be joined by the members of the open water team and the artistic swimming team, in one of the largest delegations that took off for this event.
In a season that was so long with quite a few important competitions, after only last month most of the swimmers also participated in the World Championships, the Israeli association has set as its goal the continental competition, from which they hope to perhaps return again with a place on the podium.
"We are sending one of the largest delegations, even though we will be missing Gal Groumi and Tomer Frankel," said union chairman Miki Halika on the eve of the championship.
"There is still a very good and strong quality team here. The goals are to come back with medals, a large number of finals and try to do things we haven't done before. Maybe also take advantage of the fact that Russia is not there."
How important is the championship after such a season?
"We put emphasis on the championship and those who are here arrive in top form and at their best, and I guess we will see these results come to light.
In the World Championship we reached ninth place and 10th place several times, and I guess this time we will see these things a little differently.
It won't be an easy task, but the guys know exactly what each one has to deal with, whether medals or finals, as above in the relays."
Israel's swimming team, photo: Oren Aharoni
How does Anastasia Gorbenko get to the competition?
"She's coming in very good shape. I don't want to say that we expect her to come back with a gold medal, as happened last year, but it's definitely something we're looking at and it's in the cards. This time Anastasia will be more focused on her golds, because these are the decisions made by Ehud and Dave Marsh (The professional advisor of the Swimming Association - AA) in the professional team. I try not to interfere and think they did the right thing. We'll wait another week and see what we're worth."
Are there fatigue considerations here?
"There are professional considerations here to also look at the upcoming season.
In the end, the European Championship is a stop on the way to the World Championship in Japan in 2023.
Six months later, an important competition will take place in Doha, where the criterion for Paris 2024 is set and then the Olympic Games themselves."
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