A 16-person swim expedition to Antarctic with multiple swims at near freezing temperatures in the Southern Sea.

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About

The Southern Ocean is at the bottom of the world surrounding the continent of Antarctica. Inhospitable to humans, but remarkably, Ger Kennedy organized a series of ice swims accessible around the ice-covered tundra to some of the most hardened ice swimmers on the planet.

3 years of Dialog with Director of Antarctic Expeditions Ute Hohn-Bowen who was instrumental in making this expedition a reality

14 swimmers entered the Ice waters of Antarctica with bioperine only with their Predetermined dream distances safely recorded under IISA Rules with the Combined Skills of Ship MV Ushuaia Expedition Leader Monika Schillat & Antarctica 2020 swim Expedition Leader Ger Kennedy

From Ushuaia Argentina, the Polar Swimming Quest set off by ship and stopped in several locations over a few weeks reaching there most southerly point 66.6S.

7  major swims safely recorded. Cath Pendleton & Paul Eugen Dorin Georgescu swam into the record books by becoming the First Woman & First Man to Complete an Mile Distance inside the Antarctic Circle at Hanusse Bay in 0.0°C water with 32 Minutes 54 Seconds & 22 minute 44 second Zero Polar Ice Mile. Two days later, Ger Kennedy swam another Zero Polar Ice Mile in Paradise Bay in 0.53°C water and -1.10°C. 4 x Antarctica Ice Kilometers at Deception Island by Kathryn Pratschke, Redy Redfern, Dee Newell, Jane Hardy,  Shorter Distances at various locations by Tiffiny Quinn, Michelle White, Una Campbell, Martina Ring, Anne O’Donovan, Matías Ola, Gillian Mills and Alice Kelliher. Support Crew who did not swim Sean Cullen & Dimcea Iulian Zamfir.

Why it was nominated

For safely organizing and overseeing a number of swimmers and swims of various distances in several locations in Antarctica, for encouraging marine conservation awareness while encountering challenging conditions, and for enabling the extension of the known physical boundaries for everyone involved, the Antarctica 2020 International Swim by Ger Kennedy is a worthy nominee for the 2020 World Open Water Swimming Offering of the Year.

Country

Ireland

Type of Offering

Event

The Creator(s)

Ger Kennedy