ESB Brussels Octopus
European Schools Swim Team
ESB OCTOPUS IS NOT JUST SWIMMING
During the weekend of 24-26 January, ESB Octopus travelled to Wiesbaden in Germany to participate in the competition organized by the Wiesbaden Wahoos team. Swimmers did their best, many improved their times and some qualified for the Short Distance Champs but the weekend was not just about turning up at the pool, jumping into the swimsuit and diving.
A full programme of activities promoted collaboration,
encouraged interaction, and allowed team members to see
different facets of each other's personalities. Not to mention
several fun and memorable moments.
Big thanks to the organizers for this wonderful initiative.
ESB Octopus shines in the Long Distance Champs 2024
November 30, 2024
What an incredible Long Distance Championship this weekend! Held at the Lago Pool in Brugge, the event brought together 18 highly competitive teams and over 350 swimmers, creating a vibrant atmosphere of sportsmanship and determination.
Represented by 10 swimmers, ESB Octopus showed up with pride, passion, and a commitment to excellence. The results were nothing short of outstanding, underscoring the talent and hard work of our team. Congratulations to all our swimmers! Your dedication, teamwork, and perseverance shone brightly throughout the weekend.
And big thanks to head coach Sophie, whose dedication, guidance, and constant encouragement have been a cornerstone of our success, and to our volunteer parents -Marilena, Anne, Ariane, and Sergey-, whose invaluable support played a vital role in the success of this event.
One team, one spirit!
ESB Octopus starts the new season 2024/2025 with renewed energy
September 15, 2024
The new 2024/2025 season kicked off last Sunday, September 15, with renewed energy and big goals in mind. A team kick-off meeting took place in Neder Over Heembek pool to present the team and the season's plans, promote team cohesion and enjoy some swim training.
The club's growth continues to evolve, currently having 51 swimmers from all European Schools in Brussels and all ages from 6 to 17 years old. There are 26 girls (51%) and 25 boys (49%).
The school distribution is as follows:
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EEB1 - Uccle-Berkendael: 24%
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EEB2 - Woluwe-Evere: 37%
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EEB3 - Ixelles: 24%
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EEB4 - Laeken: 12%
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Others: 3%
The team will compete in various events with the aim of improving their personal bests and obtaining times that will allow them to qualify for the long and short distances championships (in Brugge and London this year) and surpass the results achieved in the previous season.
But above all swimmers are invited to have fun and enjoy being part of the team!!!
Two gold medals at the Short Distance Champs 2024
February 12, 2024
Ten ESB swimmers qualified to the EFSL Short Distance Champs that were held in Eindhoven on 10-11 February. This will be the last year that the Nationaal Zwemcentrum de Tongelreepthe will host the Champs due to renovation.
Congratulations to the medalists: Emma Starkie, EEB2, (Silver 200m and 100m freestyle and Bronze 50m freestyle) and Ioana Vasilescu, EEB2, (Gold 400m and 200m freestyle and Silver 100m backstroke).
Congratulations also to the other qualifiers:
Hugo and Bruno Sternik-Zaleski, Oscar and
Charlotte Elisa Wiemann, Maja Limantaite,
Alberto Alquezar Pomar, Pablo Martin Rey,
and Joseph Visconti.
ESB swimmers stand on the podium at Long Distance Champs 2023
November 27, 2023
This season, the EFSL Long Distance Championships were held
in Dresden between 25-26 November.
With a reduced presence this year of just two swimmers, ESB
Octopus etched its name onto the winners' list for all the events
in which they participated. Ioana Vasilescu, EEB2, captain of the
team, showcased her prowess by securing a trio of silver medals
in 800m and 1500m freestyle as well as 200m backstroke, an
event in which she holds the EFSL record.
Equally deserving of accolades is Emma Starkie-Alves, EEB2, who also returned from the championships adorned with two medals, conquering the competition in the fiercely contested 400m and 800m freestyle events.
Limited presence of ESB in Short Distance Champs 2023
February 27, 2023
Again, exceptional circumstances prevented ESB Octopus to fully participate in the Short Distance Champs held in Eindhoven on 25-26 February.
Only one swimmer, Max King, EEB1, participated in the Champs where he obtained an excellent result in the 100m freestyle event.
ESB at the "fête de l'ecole" 2023
May 5-6, 2023
ESB swimmers and Board members were present at the school parties of EEB 1 and EEB 2 during the weekend of 5-6 May to explain how great is to swim with the club.
Describe your image
Describe your image
Describe your image
Describe your image
Max King obtains one gold and one silver medals at Long Distance Champs 2022
November 27, 2022
This year, due to different circumstances, only one ESB swimmer participated at the Long Distance Champs in Lignano (Italy) on 26 and 27 November, even if more swimmers qualified with very good times. However, our representative, Max King, 16, EEB1, excelled in 800 m (silver) and 1500 m free (gold). Congratulations for these two medals!
We hope that more swimmers will be able to attend the Short Distance Champs in Eindhoven end of February, with equally good results.
New season 2022-2023 has started!
20 medals at the Short Distance Champs 2022, including one gold
March 1, 2022
The EFSL Short Distance Champs were held in Eindhoven on 26-27 February, with 21 ESB swimmers qualified. We obtained 21 medals, including a gold (Javier Montoro, EEB1, at 200 freestyle boys, 17-19).
Congratulations to the medalists: Javier Montoro (EEB1, 4 medals), Iván Salgado (EEB1, 3 medals), Ioana Vasilescu (EEB2, 3 medals), Samuel and Benjamin Coles (American School of Brussels, 4 and 2 medals), Aleksander Janaszczyk (EEB1, one medal), Iskender Patel-Pimentel (EEB2, one medal), and the relays 200 medley (Ioana, Lisa, Iskender, Marek) and 200 free (Alexia, Ioana, Samuel, Iskender).
Congratulations also to the other qualifiers.
The new season 2022-2023 started on September, 17, with a first competition in SHAPE. This year, we have no access to CERIA for the Home Meets, but SHAPE Seals and Geilenkirchen Orcas kindly allow us to use their pool - a big thanks to our friends and rivals.
The Long Distance Champs will be held in Lignano, in Italy, where we will also travel for two "normal" meets. The Short Distance Champs will be, as usual, in Eindhoven. We wish good luck to all swimmers for this new season!
October 5, 2022
Champs 2020: ESB wins 41 medals, 6 more than last year
ESB ready for the EFSL Short Distance Champs: 21 swimmers qualified
February 22, 2022
The 2021/2022 season is coming to an end, and after the success of the LD Champs last November, the ESB swimmers are more determined than ever to show their best at the Short Distance finals. After last year's interruption, these come back this year under their "traditional" form, with nonetheless additional health measures and restrictions.
This year 21 of our swimmers have qualified and will compete in the eight different strokes and distances during the weekend of February 26th in the Olympic Pool of Eindhoven (NL) along peers from the other EFSL teams from all around Europe.
Good luck to all of them!
Champs 2020: ESB wins 41 medals, 6 more than last year
ESB Octopus wins 6 medals at the EFSL long-distance Champs in Bruges
December 2, 2021
Eight swimmers representing the European Schools of Brussels participed to the long-distance swimming finals of the European Forces Swimming League (EFSL). They won six medals at the 800, 1 500 meters freestyle, and 400 meters individual medley races.
Congratulations to Ioana Vasilescu (EEB2, three medals), Éabha Ni Chonchuir, Alberto Alquézar Pomar (EEB3) and Sam Coles (Brussels American School), and to the other Champs qualifiers as well.
The competitions are still ongoing, the next objective being the short distance Champs that will be held in Eindhoven on 26 and 27 February 2022. Several swimmers of the European Schools team are already qualified.
Champs 2020: ESB wins 41 medals, 6 more than last year
26 medals at the end of a short and difficult season
April 29, 2020
The restrictive measures to fight the COVID-19 pandemic have severely affected the swimming season of the ESB Octopus. We were only able to participate in three competitions; two in the Olympic pool of La Louvière and one home meet in CERIA, Brussels, between September and November 2020.
Despite these limitations, the European Forces Swim League (EFSL) decided to distribute the medals of the season based on the best performances, instead of organising the traditional finals (“Champs”) in Eindhoven with all teams of the league.
The ESB obtained 26 medals. Congratulations to all swimmers who were active and compete despite the difficult situation, and especially to our medalists: Alexia Salgado (Uccle, two medals), Ioana Vasilescu (Woluwe, two medals), Mathilde Peeters (Woluwe, one medal), Attila Sallai (Uccle, 6 medals), Alberto Alquézar Pomar (Ixelles, one medal), Rodrigo Alquézar Pomar (Ixelles, eight medals) and Peter Somogyi (Ixelles, six medals)..
In spite of the difficult and disappointing season, we remain motivated to come back to normal in 2021-2021!!
Champs 2020: ESB wins 41 medals, 6 more than last year
We are back! Season 2020-2021 starts...
September 15, 2020
Despite the coronavirus crisis, the season 2020-2021 started on 12 September, with a meet organised by SHAPE in the 50 m swimming pool of La Louvière.
There are still many difficulties to train, strict safety measures and other limitations, but the competition went well, extremely well organised by SHAPE and with already good results, including several qualification and B-times.
Champs 2020: ESB wins 41 medals, 6 more than last year
Champs 2020: ESB wins 41 medals, 6 more than last year
March 2, 2020
On the week-end of 29 February to 1st of March, 29 swimmers representing the different European Schools of Brussels participated to the Short Distance Champs of the EFSL in Eindhoven. Our team, ESB Octopus, obtained 41 medals, including three golds.
Congratulations to all the medalists:
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Alexia Salgado (3 medals)
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Lisa Di Stefano (1 medal)
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Inès Mazzola (1 medal)
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Jonas Eversonas (7 medals)
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Paulius Eversonas (1 medal)
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Iskender Patel-Pimentel (7 medals, including two golds)
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Jules Pellier (5 medals, including one gold)
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Rodrigo Alquézar Pomar (4 medals)
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Aura Ortega Claici (7 medals)
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Sven Woersdoerfer (2 medals)
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And three medals in relays (Georgios, Lisa, Iskender and Ioana; Jules, Inès, Aura and Sven – with two medals).
