Over in Głogów, Poland at the International Ice Swimming Association 4th World Championship, many of the world’s best and most hardened ice swimmers are swimming FAST. Really, really fast in the 3.00°C water.

In the men’s 500m freestyle, young 21-year-old Marcin Szarpak of Poland smashed the previously IISA World Championship record of 5:56:76 set by Sven Elfferich at the 2019 IISA 3rd World Championship. His time of 5:38:97 was nearly 30 seconds faster than silver medalist.

Szarpak completed a fast Ice Kilometer less than a month ago in 12 minutes 30 seconds at the Gdynia Winter Swimming Cup in 2.39°C water and -4.00°C air, so he should also be a threat for a podium position in the Ice Kilometer.

IISA 4th World Championship – Men’s 500m Freestyle – Top 10 Finishers:

1. Marcin Szarpak (21) 5:38:97
2. Rostislav Vítek (46) 6:07:82
3. Paweł Bednarczyk (28) 6:12:63
4. Mieszko Palmi-Kukiełko (29) 6:15:41
5. James Leitch (47) 6:17:09
6. Marek Rother (54) 6:21:00
7. Jiri Polansky (44) 6:26:66
8. Christof Wandratsch (56) 6:29:07
9. Kilian Graef (17) 6:31:31
10. Daniel Trzęsiec (22) 6:35:32

46 men competed in the 500m freestyle. For full results, visit here.

Livestreaming of this week’s IISA 4th World Championship between February 4th – 6th is here. All the details of the Championships are posted here. The official Championship website is posted here.

The livecast of Competition Day 1 includes 11 heats of 500m freestyle + 12 heats of 50m breaststroke + 7 heats of 50m backstroke + 5 heats of 4×50 freestyle relay.

The livecast of Competition Day 2 includes 10 heats of 1000m freestyle + 10 heats of 100m breaststroke + 16 heats of 100m freestyle + 1 Ice Kilometer final for women + 1 Ice Kilometer final for men

The livecast of Competition Day 3 include 14 heats of 250m freestyle + 9 heats of 100m individual medley + 10 heats of 50m butterfly + 20 heats of 50m freestyle + 2 heats of 4x250m freestyle + Closing Ceremony

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Steven Munatones

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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