Благодарствено писмо

Бесмир Буранай Ходжа

Уважаеми доктор Иван Цанов, благодаря ви за проявения интерес към албанското спортно плуване. Разгледах Първи Български Плувен Сайт и бях изключително впечатлен от качеството и организацията на информацията. Този уеб портал ни вдъхнови да направим наш (албански) плувен сайт. Благодарение на хора като вас, чрез вашите комуникации и идеи, давате шанс на плувците от Балканите да се сравняват и състезават с такива сили в плуването като страните от Западна Европа и другите развити нации. Благодаря ви за вдъхновението и мотивацията!

Спортното плуване в Албания

Иван Цанов

Бесмир Буранай Ходжа

Обща характеристика

В Албания няма много плувни съоръжения, ресурсите са ограничени и като цяло възможностите за професионален спорт не са големи. Албанската плувна програма е много млада от гледна точка на участие в международни състезания. Дълго време рекордите бяха много посредствени и брадясали. През последните три години обаче албанското спортно плуване се разви лавинообразно и то в положителна посока. Всичко започна с участието на Сидни Ходжа (на 16-годишна възраст) на олимпиадата в Пекин през 2008 г. Плуването в страната на орлите е сезонно обусловено и все още твърде ограничено в своето развитие поради липса на басейни. Също така трябва да се плащат такси – веднъж за треньора и втори път за клуба. В столицата Тирана има 50-метров олимпийски плувен басейн наречен „Аквадром”, където тренират повечето плувни клубове. В Тирана има още 4-5 25-метрови басейни. В Дурес (Драч) също има няколко 25-метрови басейни, както и в някои други градове. Градовете Дурес (Драч), Вльора и Саранда са известни с бистрите си спокойни крайбрежни води и по тази причина състезанията по плуване в открити води се провеждат в техните акватории. От тези градове идват и по-голямата част от албанските далечински плувци. Най-важните албански състезания са националния шампионат и републиканската купа, както и провеждащите се от време на време състезания между плувците на Албания и Косово.

Клубове и треньори

В Албания има около 20 плувни клубове. Най-известният клуб в Албания е „Тирана Делфина Спорт” (TDS), а в Дурес (Драч) – „Теута” – те са най-известни с мъжете си плувци. Женското плуване е най-добре представено в клуб „Лори 2006” от Тирана. Албания има около 25 плувни треньори. Само 6-8 треньори имат възможност да подготвят отборите си целогодишно и имат под опеката си професионални плувци. Най-известният треньор е Шпетим Ходжа – баща на Сидни Ходжа. Шпетим Ходжа е натрупал плавния си опит като е строил училищни басейни. Друг известен треньор е Ариан Фетишай – треньор на „Тирана Спорт”. Той самият е бивш плувец и е практикувал в езерото на Тирана. По време на престоя си в Италия натрупа голям плувен опит. В момента Албания няма национален треньор по плуване, а той се избират на ротационен принцип от федерацията. Под внимание се вземат техния опит и активност.

Най-добрите плувци и плувкини

Мъже

Най-добрият плувец на Албания се казва Сидни Ходжа. Държи 85% от рекордите на страната. Най-добър е в свободния стил, но плува всичко. Иска да учи в университета на Мичиган (САЩ) и да стане по-известен от хърватина Дуйе Драганья. Вторият по сила е Йон Пепай – бътерфлаист. Също много добри плувци са Енди Баби, Ерос Джама и Бесмир Ходжа.

Жени

Най-добрата плувкиня на Албания е Ровена Марку. Представя Албания на олимпийските игри през 2004 г. и 2008 г. На последната олимпиада в Пекин завърши 58-а на 50 м свободен стил. Започва кариерата си плувайки в езерото на Шкодра. Големи надежди се възлагат върху Сара Абдулаху и Дебора Кечи.

Albania’s swimming today

Ivan Tsanov

Besmir Buranaj Hoxha

General information In Albania there are not that many facilities, very few resources, and few opportunities for professional spots. Albanian’s swimming program, in international competition aspects, is very fresh and new. For a long time, the records were stale and very slow. In the last past 3 years the swimming program has increased and improved tremendously. It started when Sidni Hoxha took place in Beijing 2008 at the age of 16. A lot of Albanian international swimmers arose wanting to represent their flag and partake in the history of Albanian swimming. The swimming in Albania is seasonal and very limited due to the lack of facilities. Training requires money, the facilities want fees, and there is always the fact that you have to pay the trainer and paying for club fees. There is a 50 m LC Olympic swimming pool in Tirana called the “Aquadrom”; many of the squads train here. There is around 4-5 SC 25m pools in Tirana. There are also a few SC 25 pools in Durres and other cities. Cities of Durres, Vlora and Saranda are known for their clear calm waters; and for this reason open water competitions are held there. These are the cities where most of the distance swimmers come from. The most Important Swimming Tournaments of Albania that are held are the National Championships & Republic Cup & and sometimes cooperative Kosovo-Albanian Swim meets. Swimming clubs, swimming coaches and Junior Division swimmers Swimming clubs There is roughly around 20 swimming clubs in Albania. The swimming squad most known for their male swimmers is “Tirana Delfina Sport (TDS)” in Tirana & Teuta in the city of Durres. For Females is “Lori 2006” in Tirana. There are roughly 25+ trainers around the nations. Out of this number roughly around 6-8 train their clubs year round and have professional swimmers in their teams. Swimming coaches Shpetim Hoxha. The most famous of all trainers and Sidni Hoxha’s Father. He is coach of TDS. Even though Shpetim has no experience in swimming, he has knowledge of the sport to the point where he has designed swimming pools for certain schools. His style of coaching’s parallel to American University style training books. Arian Fetishaj. Coaches club Tirana Sport (KSN) and holds a high amount of Junior Division fast swimmers. He himself uses to be an Albanian swimmer (Breaststroke) where he uses to practice in the Tirana Lake. He will provide the next wave of Balkans champs with his education and experience he obtained while living in Italy. The position of the trainer for the National team for international swimming events is chosen in rotation. Experience, activity, and other variables are taking into consideration. In all there is no set permanent Head coach for the national team. They are chosen by the Swimming Federation in order of the rotation. Junior Division swimmers The Junior Division swimmers who are making an impact into the swimming scene are as follows: Males: Juergen Fici (Br) & Gezim Hyka (Fly) & Mario Sulkaj (FR) & Donado Dervishi (BR) & Denis Citozi (Long Distance). Females: Reni Jani & Anxhela Kashari The best swimmers Male Swimmers Sidni Hoxha: Holds 85 % of the records in Albania. Master at Freestyle, but is immaculate in all strokes. 100 m FR= 52.54 (LC) & 50.07 (SC). 50 m FR= 22.49. He holds over 826 points in FINA. By far the best Albanian Swimmer ever been produced. He swims for TDS in Tirana. His career as a swimmer has just begun. He is in the process of working with Besmir to come swim in USA. He is currently the fastest 50 m Freestyler in the Balkans for the junior division & and second fastest for 100 m FR. Has participated in many international tournaments. His liking would be to swim in the University of Michigan and become more famous than Duje Draganja that comes out of the Balkans. Jon Pepaj: Is known as the second best all round swimmer in the nation. His strong strokes are in the butterfly. With 4 years experience, he holds 100 m Fly record in SC. He swims for TDS in Tirana. He turns heads in all international meets due to his fashionable style, expensive taste, good looks, and charming personality. He is currently working with Besmir to participate in a swimming program in America. Endi Babi: He resides in Toronto Canada but swims in West Kentucky University in America. He holds the 100 & 200 m Fly records for a 50 m LC pool; also for the 200& 400 m FR. He is known as one of the strongest swimmers due to his muscular built. Eros Qama: The oldest of the group, and the hardest worker. He swims at College of Staten Island (CSI) in New York. He was voted 2007 Swimmer of the Year award l. He sets the pace and the mind set when it comes to working hard in the sport of swimming. His forte resides in 100 & 200 Fly as well as in 400 & 800 FR. He made his professional debut in the 2007 World Champs in Melbourne Australia. Due to some complications he was not able to partake in the 2008 Olympics. He is preparing for London 2012. Besmir Buranaj Hoxha: He brings a set of power proficiency in his methods that he learned from College Waterpolo at the University of Texas to his strokes. With the least experience of all his teammates in competitive swimming with only a year and a half, Besmir only has 5 years in the pool. He made his transition into swimming from Waterpolo during his tournament tour of the Balkans in 2009. He swims for Texas Longhorn Aquatics Club and receives training from Ian Crocker & James Fike at Ian Crocker’s Swim School. He is specifically known for sprinting and favors 50 m FR & 50 m BR & 100 m IM. He is in the process of supporting a program to bring Albanian swimmers to train in America. He plans to sweep 50, 100, and 200 m Breaststroke events in the upcoming year.

Female Swimmers

Rovena Marku: Represented her native country at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics аt the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, she set a new Albanian Record in 50 m freestyle of 28.15 She finished 58th in Olympics 2008. She holds many Albanian records. Her career as a swimmer began when she would swim in the Lake of Shkodra and her talent as an athlete rose her to the professional level. She eventually moved to Tirana to pursue her education and her swimming career. She swims for TDS in Tirana. She has traveled all over Europe in various tournaments and in various sports management events. She has been recognized as a top contender in the Balkans. Her hard work and enthusiasm is a joy to be around. She is very self-driven and independent.

Sara Abdulahu: She is a very young swimmer at the age of 15 whose talents are worth mentioning for a professional level. She is an amazing all around swimmer. She is on the top list for the Junior Section in Europe. Born in Kosovo as an ethnic Albanian she now resides in Switzerland and swims for SV Beider Basel. She received her Albanian Citizenship this summer and competed for flag in her first grand debut in Roma world Champs 2009. Her 200 m FR=2.07.34 & 50 m FR=27.89 (SC); she has 717 FINA points.

Debora Keci: Swims for Teuta in city of Durres. Still at a young age, Debora still has plenty of time to perfect her skills and increase her talents as a well-rounded swimmer. She made her professional debut in Roma World Champs 2009 in a FR relay race.

January 15, 2010, FBSS, Sofia, Bulgaria