Over 650 swimmers will take the plunge to compete in the 30-yards traditional head-up breaststroke, freestyle dash and a Big Splash group jump-in.
The UK Cold Water Swimming Championships are sponsored by Ingage and organised by the South London Swimming Club. Competing in the near-freezing lido attracts both experienced cold water swimmers and newbies.
The Championships support International Inspiration and Frank Water, two charities that provide safe water around the world. The Big Splash will be the focus of fundraising and the perfect introduction for newcomers to the sport.
There will be 653 swimmers competing in 115 races managed by 150 volunteers and viewed by over 800 spectators during the event held in the UK’s largest open-air, unheated fresh-water pool in the UK where the Cold Water Swimming Championships first started in 2006.
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.