The "Agron Ruvina" Swimming Marathon gathers dozens of swimmers in the waters of Lake Ohrid

2025-08-23 19:18:00, Qyteti im CNA

The "Agron Ruvina" Swimming Marathon gathers dozens of swimmers in the

The "Agron Ruvina" Swimming Marathon took place in the tourist city of Pogradec, an activity that has now become a tradition, gathering dozens of athletes and swimming enthusiasts every year.

About 70 swimmers participated in this edition, competing in two categories, distances of 1750 meters and 280 meters.

Representatives of Albania's national teams, swimmers from the cities of the Ohrid Lake region, as well as participants from other countries, were present at this marathon, giving the activity an international character.

In addition to professionals, amateurs and athletes of all ages also participated in the waters of Lake Ohrid, making the competition a true sports celebration and an attraction for the city of Pogradec at the peak of the tourist season.

The "Agron Ruvina" Swimming Marathon not only promotes the sport of swimming, but also highlights the natural beauties of Lake Ohrid, becoming an event that unites tradition, tourism and sport.

The organizer of the marathon, Sotiraq Iftica, emphasized that this event is a tradition that has returned after a long hiatus, noting that Pogradec has always been a hotbed of passion for swimming.

He expressed his belief that the marathon is now on the right track and called on the young people of Pogradec to create a team dedicated to this sport.

" This marathon is attended by competitors from many countries, from Albania, Greece and America. There could be around 70 participants in our beautiful city, Pogradec. This is a tradition in Pogradec that had not been held for a long time, for a period of 15-20 years. We managed to put this marathon on the right track. The first training and the first swimming competitions were held at Uçkave Beach. I call on the generations of swimming enthusiasts to create a Pogradec swimming team ," said Iftica.

The long race, in which Devi Shtaro triumphed, brought special emotions. He considered the victory as the reward for a long and intense preparation, while he dedicated the success to his family, who closely accompanied him in this challenge.

" I was so excited, I actually got tired of my arms. I dedicate this achievement to my family. I train in Durrës, in an Olympic pool. I have been training for seven years. My motivation was my family who came here for me today and I wanted to dedicate it to them ," said Shtaro.

In the veterans category, the winner was Ana Angjellari, who experienced this result as a special achievement, closely linking it to the family passion for swimming, which has been passed down from generation to generation.

For him too, victory was a combination of hard work and family support.

" I am very happy, for me it is the third time that I participate in the marathon but this is the first time that I win first place. My father and I have always been passionate about swimming, where my father also won first place for veterans in the first year that this marathon was held. I dedicate the victory to myself first of all because I have been working on swimming this year and I wanted to come out on top, I also dedicate it to my family and the city", said Angjellari.

Another special moment of the marathon was the performance of Lizi Gusho, who managed to place first in two races, both in the long and short marathon for women.

Although she lives and trains in the US, she felt this success as an honor for her hometown, Pogradec, with which she maintains a strong emotional connection.

" I'm very tired but I'm happy that I made it. It was a lot of fun. I live in America and train there, but I'm from Pogradec. I really enjoy swimming, I really enjoy marathons and also representing the city of Pogradec. I learned to swim when I was three years old and I became part of the competitions when I was seven years old ," said Lizi Gusho.

This year's marathon was also accompanied by emotions of remembrance.

Former coach Sadik Mema brought to attention the figure of Agron Ruvina, the icon of Albanian swimming, who remains unforgettable as a great champion and as the person who set new standards in the sport of swimming in the country.

" A very exciting activity, we started organizing the "Agron Ruvina" marathon in 1993. It is an activity with a lot of emotions, participation. I feel it because I had Agron as a friend, we were swimmers together and in the national team, as well as in international meetings. I keep the best memories of a wonderful man, of a great swimming champion except for Pogradec. I have those memories in mind because Agron Ruvina was the first person to break the record and the first to do 100 meters freestyle under a minute. He remains one of the icons of national swimming ", said former coach Mema.

The “Agron Ruvina” Swimming Marathon in Pogradec showed once again that sport is the bridge that connects generations, traditions and passions. In the waters of Lake Ohrid, professionalism and love for swimming faced each other, bringing strong emotions, beautiful competitions and unforgettable memories.

This activity remains not only a tribute to an icon of Albanian sports, but also a guarantee that Pogradec will continue to be a vibrant center of sports and tourism./ CNA