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...

History tells us that Japanese samurai, the Roman Legions, and the Spartan soldiers all underwent cold water swimming as part of their military and mental preparations. The leaders of these hardened men of earlier millenia knew that training along the seashore, in lakes, and in rivers, especially during the winter and early spring months, would increase their tolerance to cold and various hardships, making them overall better warriors. They learned to swim in all kinds of different water environments and conditions. The Japanese had specific terms for these types of swimming: shinden ryu (marathon swimming), kankai ryu (ocean swimming), suifu ryu (river swimming or rapids swimming), as well as other methods that were based on the topography and waterways (e.g., coastline or mountain areas). For example, if the samurai had to fight while wearing armor, they would study the kobori ryu (combative swimming) where the samurai would eggbeater (tread water) while keeping their upper...

Who are among the most influential open water personalities in recent history? Who are considered impactful legends, unsung heroes, humble heroines, and overlooked historic figures in the sport? Everyone has their favorite personalities and icons in the sport of open water swimming. Any list of The Most Influential Personalities of Open Water Swimming is, by necessity, subjective. But it is certainly fun to discuss and debate among open water swimmers, historians, and fans. Below are our choices for The Most Influential Personalities in the Open Water Swimming World between 1950 and 2020. This list does not focus on swimmers as athletes, but rather coaches, escort pilots, administrators, event directors, referees, crew members, authors, documentary filmmakers, database creators, promoters, and historians. This selection of The Most Influential Personalities of Open Water Swimming is based on four criteria: 1. Promoters - individual who market the sport as writers, filmmake...

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...

Who are among the best open water swimmers in history? Who are considered legends, icons, heroes, heroines, historic figures in the sport? Everyone 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 of the 2010's. This selection of the Best Open Water Swimmers of the 2010's 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 temperatures That is, if a Cham...