A Frosty Swim With Warm Feelings
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Matías Ola will attempt to swim 4.5 km with British ice swimmer Jackie Cobell across the Estrecho de San Carlos between Gran Malvina and Soledad in the Falkland Islands. From the frost-covered shores, they will enter Antarctic waters where sea temperature of only 8°C. “This crossing, together with Jackie, will have enormous significance. We want to take this message of unity under the Unir el Mundo project,” explains Ola.
Sometime between Marhc 14th and 21st, the pair will make the attempt. “The tides, currents and winds will be key to get out and be able to swim. That will also determine if the swim will be easy or difficult.”
Ola also is the National Brand Ambassador by the Ministry of Tourism of Argentina. “I swim always representing my country, wherever, so the goal that I have very clear is that I do public diplomacy to transform negative thoughts into positive.”
Cobell, representing the United Kingdom, and Ola, representing Argentina, were previously indirectly united through the Falklands conflict. “We want to make this swim hard and dream all this time with the idea of sharing a message of peace, unity and harmony among our countries.”
“I feel very honored that I have been invited to swim together in this historic swim,” Cobell responds. “We are going to swim with friendship, harmony and love. And hopefully our message help to bridge the gap that our countries are feeling.”
Copyright © 2015 by World Open Water Swimming Association
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
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