Simona Kubová, née Baumrtová, has in her collection a bronze medal from the 100-meter breaststroke at the World Championships and a total of 11 precious metals from the European Championships. Even at the age of 31, she is still one of the top Czech swimmers and draws attention to herself on the international scene as well. “I still enjoy swimming and participating in the international league gave me a new impulse,” she revealed in an interview with Aktuálně.cz.
What pleased you most about last year?
At the World Championships, I broke the Czech record in the 50-meter backstroke and at the European Championships, I was happy that I managed to advance to the finals on the double course. Otherwise, even at the beginning of the year, the previous December joy from the wonderful final celebration of the Energy Standard team, which I helped to the overall first place in the International Swimming League with the points gained in four races, was still reverberating in me.
You were the first Czech swimmer to complete this competition for the third time. What does it mean to you?
This international league is built on the battles of the biggest swimming stars, and that’s why I was very happy to be part of the mentioned winning French team. After the previous start in the American DC Trident, I got to know a different culture in the Japanese lineup Tokyo Frog Kings, but the best and most valuable for me was in Energy Standard. Under the guidance of Canadian coach Tom Rushton, I joined a small training group and flew around the world.
What specifically enriched your swimming life?
I gathered the most experience I could get in swimming. I met top swimmers, got to know them and learned a lot from them. The wonderful personal relationships that I established there in the overall excellent atmosphere are an experience of a lifetime. The path to the French team’s first place was dramatic and amazing at the same time, just like holding the winning trophy above your head after the final match in Eindhoven.
With a bit of exaggeration, it can probably be said that during your frequent and long trips, you were more in the plane than in the water. Did you always manage the changes in time, weather and generally entering a completely different environment without any problems on the route from continent to continent?
It may be a little strange, but I avoided any major complications. I usually sleep during long journeys on the plane, I have been able to cope with the time difference since I was a child and I can adapt to a different lifestyle early on. In addition, for example, before the World Cup in Australia, the training in Asia helped me, so there was more time for acclimatization. Of course, you can’t live in a suitcase, that is, travel from place to place for long. However, I am glad that I got to know this way of life without any major problems.
Do you have an event behind you that belongs to the unforgettable category?
Participating in the World Championships in Australia last month was a great experience for me, because I will probably never visit Melbourne again. The visit to the safari was exceptional for me, with the opportunity to see many different animals literally at close range. Looking into the eyes of rhinos facing you, observing a giraffe at a distance of one meter or feeding kangaroos are wonderful experiences that cannot be forgotten. I was only sorry that I couldn’t pet the cute koala bears because you had to buy a ticket for that and they were already sold out when we arrived.
You are studying at university. how far are you
I graduated with a bachelor’s degree and a subsequent master’s degree in physiotherapy and subsequently started a doctoral study in kinanthropology, which is a field dealing with various forms of human movement. Last year I also finished my MBA with the possibility of applying in various areas of business, and this year I started to study accounting because I might enjoy it more than physiotherapy.
How do you manage to combine elite sports with demanding studies?
It requires good time management. School was always important to me and I enjoyed swimming. I attended eighty percent of the compulsory lectures, but the school allowed me to move from one group to another depending on which days of the week suited me better. Otherwise, I managed to manage everything like everyone else. I devote 20 hours a week to swimming training in the water and three hours on dry land. Many swimmers do not spend more time preparing for big races.
With what ideas or intentions do you enter this pre-Olympic year?
I want to devote more time to preparing for the dry season and I still need to confirm the limit already met last year for participating in the World Championships in Japan in July.
