The Villeneuve Swimmers' Club celebrates its hundredth anniversary with the annual swimming meeting

The club invited the oldest swimmers and descendants of the founders to attend the party organized on Saturday, May 24, at the Malbentre aquatic center.

"We're expecting 170 swimmers and 15 different organizations... A record!" Romain Gasquet, president of the Cercle Villeneuvois de natation (CNV), is not hiding his satisfaction. For this third consecutive meeting, organized at the Malbentre aquatic center on Saturday, May 24, the competitors will be there.

The program includes individual, relay, and time trials, known as King and Queen, a very lively event for both swimmers and spectators. The winners will receive trophies made from recycled materials and sets of equipment. For the first time, synchronized swimming, which was launched this year at the CNV, will be showcased in the afternoon, between two events.

But this twentieth meeting has a special character, since it marks the hundredth anniversary of the club which started in the Lot, then moved to the Rooy swimming pool, the Stadium and finally Malbentre.

On this occasion, in addition to the swimming events, the CNV wanted to extend the day with a friendly evening reserved for its members. "A project that's been a year and a half in the making," emphasizes Romain Gasquet. To make the party a success, the club wanted to invite its most distinguished former swimmers and coaches, and even the descendants of the founders. Nicolas Dorian, a medal-winning CNV athlete, was tasked with finding them "via the internet and social media. One of them will be coming from Guadeloupe to participate in the party."

Members of the family of Paul Schreiber, who founded the CNV in 1925 with Camille Faubel, also responded favorably to the invitation: "This evening is above all an opportunity for the club's swimmers to meet up again, to compare their experiences between the different generations. For some, it will also be a time of reunion." 300 people are expected to participate in the event.

Swim meet from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, May 24, with the morning reserved for qualifying sessions. Open to the public. Free.