Who cares about the short pelvis?

Experts rush to remove kilos from the bar, to reduce the value of the gold medals obtained in Lublin by Carmen Weiler, Hugo González and Carles Coll. There are two words that seem to devalue Spain’s success and its shine on the medal table. Two words that try to diminish the merit of this trio of European champions. Two terrible and devastating words. What are they? Short pelvis.

The short pool, which is nothing more than an Olympic pool divided in two, measures 25 meters and is a favorite of swimmers, who periodically find their physical suffering relieved by a great respite in the form of flips and pushes against the wall. What is the value of a medal in a short course competition? Are the triumphs of this pocket swimming representative?

The value, undoubtedly, as in short track athletics, is lower than that of a medal in actual swimming, which is contested in an Olympic-sized pool. There is no doubt: the truth is within 50 meters. But that doesn’t take away from the importance of mini-pool wins.

Do swimming stars ignore the short course championships? Often, yes. But they also participate occasionally. Just look at the list of world records in the 25 meter pool. Brilliant names appear there, like Katie Ledecky or Summer McIntosh. The two great sirens of world swimming.

The three gold medals obtained by Spain in Lublin have a particular brilliance. Coll, Weiler and González showed an excellent moment of form and beat the continental rivals who prepared for these championships. Even if not everyone went there. His performance represents a powerful breath of optimism for next summer’s European Championships in Paris. Already in an Olympic swimming pool, of course.