Intense Competition Among World’s Best Ice Swimmers
Courtesy of Nuala Moore from inside the Polar Circle. With the air temperature around Lake Semenovskoe in Murmansk at -7°C and the water temperature at 0.8°C, the biggest city in the world inside the Arctic Circle, showcased history’s greatest ice swimming competition at the inaugural World Ice Swimming Championships in Murmansk, Russia,.
In the men’s 1 km race, the showdown featured Germany’s Christof Wandratsch, Russia’s Albert Sobirov, and Estonia’s Henri Kaarma.
The level of competition could not get any better. “It was an amazing race with stunning performances,” describes Nuala Moore. “It is hard to believe the speed and the brilliance of these guys.”
The first, second and third best in the world swimming head-to-head was an ice swimming fan’s dream come true to witness.
The final results:
1. Christof Wandratsch of Germany – 13:00
2. Albert Sobirov of Russia – 13:41
3. Henri Kaarma of Estonia – 14:17
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.
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