The ‘Ice Mermaid’ of Chile Bárbara Hernández Huerta Receives Bronze in the WOWSA Women of the Year Awards
The WOWSA Awards have recognized the achievements of one of the greatest ice swimmers, Bárbara Hernández Huerta, with the Bronze in the Woman of the Year category.
Chilean ice swimmer, Bárbara Hernández Huerta, nicknamed the ‘Ice Mermaid’ or Sirena de Hielo, Bárbara is a 37-year-old winter swimmer from Santiago, Chile who specializes in glacier swimming.
Her impressive swimming credentials include winning the 450m freestyle at the Iceswim Festival held in Estonia and completing a 35 km crossing of the North Channel in 12 hours 19 minutes, demonstrating her strength and endurance in challenging conditions.
As a member of the Antarctica2020 group of leaders calling for greater marine protection in the region and working closely with the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition, Bárbara has been supporting the call to world leaders to act to ensure the conservation of the ocean. She made history this week by being the first person to swim 2.5 kilometers in the frozen waters of Antarctica.
Bárbara Hernández Huerta accepting her award from Antarctica:
The WOWSA Awards, an annual recognition of excellence in open water swimming, celebrates individuals who embody the spirit of open water swimming and have made a positive impact on the community. Over 143 nominations were evaluated by the 97 members of the WOWSA Awards Voting Academy, and Bárbara was one of the 10 finalists chosen from 23 different countries for the Woman of the Year category.
More than 11,400 public votes were cast, with a 75% weighting from the WOWSA Academy and 25% from the general public, to determine the winners in each category. Bárbara was selected for her ability to showcase the determination, fortitude, and sense of adventure that is at the heart of open water swimming, as well as her efforts in supporting the conservation of the ocean.
Bárbara Hernández Huerta is a true leader in the world of ice swimming, not only for her impressive athletic feats, but also for her dedication to preserving our oceans for future generations.
See Open Water Swimming Community Honors its Best at 2022 WOWSA Awards
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