Open Water Swimming News & Views

Ram Barkai , founder and chairperson of the International Ice Swimming Association (IISA), shared a variety of changes to the IISA [shown above in Antarctica]. IISA Restructure Following a big and successful World Championship in early 2023 and the rapid growth in our sport, IISA has embarked on a restructuring of its operating model to allow us to deal with its growth and allow for more people to get involved and contribute to our sport. IISA covers various activities from Ice Mile and its derivative challenges to competitions and events. IISA is not chasing any sports association or its business model. It [is] certainly learning and following some established experiences, but the most important part of the IISA sport model is its swimmers, their safety, and their passion for the ICE. We endeavour to maintain this forever. Some IISA Board members have stepped down to join some of the newly formed working committees and to allow new ones to join us in time. I want to take t...

Ger Kennedy , known as Dr. Ice , was formally honored with a Guinness World Record for his achievement of the Ice Sevens . The Ice Sevens Challenge is the ice swimming equivalent of the Oceans Seven - that takes extreme to an entirely different level. To achieve the Ice Sevens, a swimmer must complete an Ice Mile under standard ice swimming rules (i.e., no wetsuit and no neoprene hat in water below 5ºC) in seven locations. The swims must be ratified or recognized by the International Ice Swimming Association . o An Ice Mile swum below 5ºC (41ºF) in any location in Europe o An Ice Mile swum below 5ºC (41ºF) in any location in Oceania o An Ice Mile swum below 5ºC (41ºF) in any location in Asia o An Ice Mile swum below 5ºC (41ºF) in any location in North America o An Ice Mile swum below 5ºC (41ºF) in any location in Africa o An Ice Mile swum below 5ºC (41ºF) in any location in South America o An Ice Mile swum below 5ºC (41ºF) in any Polar location at 60º south or below...

Who are among the best open water swimmers in history? Who are considered legends, icons, heroes, heroines, and historic figures in the sport? Every fan has their favorite swimmers. Any list of the Best Open Water Swimmers of the Decade is, by necessity, subjective. But it is certainly fun to discuss and debate among open water swimming historians and fans. Below are our choices for the Best Open Water Swimmers between the 1950's and 2010's. This selection of the Best Open Water Swimmers of the Decade is based on four criteria with the following priority: 1. Champions - or swimmers who won major international races against the best swimmers of their era 2. Pioneers - or swimmers who completed unprecedented extreme swims of any distance in any location 3. Record Holders - or swimmers who set records across channels, lakes, seas, either in competition or on a solo swim 4. Endurers - or swimmers who swam for distance in any open body of water at various temperatur...