In the summer of 1938, a group of young swimming enthusiasts emerged, eager to continue the swimming traditions of Jedinstvo and Banat, which had ceased operations. They trained on the Tisa River, gradually developing a strong desire to participate in and organize swimming competitions, especially for their fellow townspeople.
In the journal "Let Us Tell You," kept jointly by Vasilije Nićin and Branislav Kiselički from 1939 to 1941 and preserved in the Novi Bečej Public Library archives, it is noted that in the summer of 1939, Branislav Kiselički, Stevan Kiurski, Aleksandar Aćimov, Imre Farkaš, and Đerđ Brikner established a swimming section that joined the active Vranjevo sports club, Zvezda.
In his book "Novi Bečej and Vranjevo Through History from the Earliest Days to 1941," Lazar Mečkić confirms this: In the summer of 1939, after five years, Branislav Kiselički, Stevan Kiurski, and a few other students established a swimming section within the football club Zvezda. Though technically a separate club, they used Zvezda’s already government-approved rules, enabling uninterrupted operations. The section gathered a large number of young enthusiasts and began systematic training along the free-flowing stretch of the Tisa near Gradište woods.
In the summer of 1940, these young enthusiasts were eager to showcase their swimming skills to their fellow citizens. With some uncertainty, they managed to schedule a "Great Swimming Day" for August 18, 1940. Kiselički writes in "Let Us Tell You": "Training was becoming more extensive. The swimmers chose their styles, and preparations began for a large-scale event. Meanwhile, we sent one of our own to a swimming coach course, hoping his experience would be valuable to us. Two weeks before the 'big day' (which would cost us so much anxiety), we began promoting the event. A week before, the shop windows on the main street were adorned with posters, which we proudly displayed. On the eve of the competition, we made all the necessary preparations. Not even unfavorable weather stopped us... we began setting up the swimming area with two poles."
However, despite all preparations, bad weather meant the competition fell short of expectations. The "Great Swimming Day" started with a 400-meter race with only three brave swimmers who, despite the cold, entered the Tisa. No more than three competitors participated in each event, and due to the chilly conditions, the competition concluded without spectators. In the journal, Kiselički regretfully notes: "Thus came the infamous August 18, 1940, which left an impression on our souls like a heavy, fragmented dream. With it ended our first era of existence. After it came the first disbandment, soon followed by a new name."
This disappointment greatly affected the organizers, leading to the dissolution of the VSK Zvezda swimming section.
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