The Stuttgart Piranhas swim team is one of the original founding members of the European Forces Swim League (EFSL). The EFSL is an outgrowth of U.S. and Allied Armed Forces community-sponsored swim teams that was formed in 1975 in response to a recognized need to provide an organized competitive swimming program for the youth of military and civilian members stationed in Europe. Since then the League has steadily increased in membership to 17 teams located in Germany, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Spain, England, and The Netherlands. U.S. Forces, NATO and European communities are represented. There are three championship meets; Long Distance, Divisional, & Short Distance Championships, as well as various swim meets throughout the season. The first European Forces Swim League Championship meet was held on 16 April 1977.

In 2016, the swimmers of the Stuttgart Piranhas broke 33 team records and placed first in more than 20 swim events. In February, the team took home the Rhineland Division title when they placed first at the division swim meet in Berlin, Germany.

The team is practicing almost year-around. Swim clinics hosted by professional swimmers assist the young swimmers in improving their skills. Olympic athletes Aaron Peirsol and Kim Vandenberg visited the team on May 21, 2016, for a swim clinic to help the young athletes with their foundations for backstroke and butterfly. Olympic athlete and Team USA Olympic swimmer Kim Vandenberg returned on September 10 of the following year to host another swim clinic.

The Stuttgart Piranhas swim team attended the European Forces Swim League Short Distance Championship in Eindhoven, The Netherlands from February 25-26, 2017. The swimmers won a total of 96 medals, breaking seven EFSL individual records and one EFSL relay record as well as 38 team individual records and two team relay records[8]. Later that year, 22 swimmers from the team qualified for the EFSL Long Distance Champions swim meet which tool place Lignano, Italy from November 24-25, 2017. 15 teams from across Europe competed in more than 390 individual long-distance events. The Stuttgart Piranhas swimmers broke four team records and won more than 30 medals.

On February 1, 2020, the team won the Rhineland Divisional title in Berlin, Germany. 53 swimmers competed during the meet scoring a total of 1054 points.

At the 2020 Short Distance Championships, the team placed second behind the Kaiserslautern Kingfish scoring a total of 426 points.

The Stuttgart Piranhas is supported by a team of volunteers. Volunteer and team member recruiting efforts are supported by the US Army Garrison Stuttgart community. The team is also looking for coaches to assist the young swimmers.

 

References

  1. ^ "European Forces Swim League - About". European Forces Swim League - About. European Forces Swim League. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  2. ^ "EFSL Swim League: About EFSL". European Forces Swim League.
  3. ^ "About the EFSL - WIESBADEN WAHOOS SWIM TEAM". WIESBADEN WAHOOS SWIM TEAM. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  4. ^ Childs, Jan (14 March 2016). "Stuttgart Piranhas set new records at European championships". The Stuttgart Citizen. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  5. ^ Childs, Jan (18 February 2016). "Stuttgart Piranhas earn spots at European championship". The Stuttgart Citizen. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  6. ^ Abel, Kevin (2 June 2016). "Stuttgart Piranhas train with Olympians". The Stuttgart Citizen. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  7. ^ Abel, Kevin (5 October 2017). "Olympians train Piranhas". The Stuttgart Citizen. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  8. ^ DeBrine, Ami (9 March 2017). "Stuttgart Piranhas bring home European Championship medals". The Stuttgart Citizen. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  9. ^ DeBrine, Ami (7 Dec 2017). "Piranhas attack the competition, bring home 30 medals". The Stuttgart Citizen. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  10. ^ Geiser, Daisy (1 March 2020). "Piranhas win divisional swim league title". The Stuttgart Citizen. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  11. ^ Johnson, Immanuel (29 February 2020). "Athletes show off swim skills in pool, social skills outside it". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  12. ^ USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs (21 June 2017). "Welcome to Stuttgart: Make new friends by volunteering or joining community organizations". The Stuttgart Citizen. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  13. ^ Public Affairs (20 June 2019). "Swim coaches wanted". The Stuttgart Citizen. Retrieved 13 February 2022.