Swimming For A Carrot
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. 41-year-old Jonty Warneken became history’s first disabled swimmer to completed an Ice Mile. The amputee who lost a leg in a car accident jumped in the 4.8ºC water temperatures in Ellerton Park, near Catterick on January 26th.
“I have been outdoor swimming for a while now and took part in a number of 10 km swims as well as lake swims before I started to think about the Ice Mile,” explained Warneken to the Harrogate Advertiser.
“When I realized that no other disabled person had done it, well that was a big carrot I couldn’t refuse.”
Under the watchful eye of his coach Pauline Squire, he prepared carefully for the 58-minute inversion in the cold. “This isn’t something you can just jump in and do, it’s very dangerous and you need a team around you who understand the cold.”
With an Ice Mile under his cap, Warneken is enthusiastic for others to join the sport in either the cold or warm. “Swimming doesn’t hurt, I don’t wear my prosthetic leg and it’s so refreshing doing it. Outdoor swimming is so inclusive I don’t know why more disabled people aren’t getting involved. The mantra is very much ‘complete not compete’.”
Warneken’s eloquently explains his experience to Stray FM radio here.
Copyright © 2014 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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