Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

Rostislav Vitek recently set the world record for the ice mile in Blansko, Czech Republic in 4.83°C water and 1°C air temperature with a time of 20:29.

Since Philip Emslie first set the record for an ice mile with a 22:30 in South Africa, the record has dropped 2 minutes in 4 years.

Magda Okurková has similarly dropped the women’s record initially set by Cecilia Schutte from 26:45 to 24:05.

The fastest male and female ice mile swims in history – and only people to break 30 minutes – include the following swimmers:

1. Rostislav Vitek – Mar 2015 in Blansko, Czech Republic in 4.83°C water and 1°C air: 20:29
2. Christof Wandratsch – Dec 2014 in Wöhrsee, Germany in 3.47°C water and -2°C air: 21:38
3. James Bridges – Mar 2014 in 64acre Lake, UK in 4.60°C water and 2°C air: 21:43
4. Philip Emslie – Jul 2011 in Fraserburg, South Africa in 5.00°C water and 10°C air: 22:30
5. Brad Gale – Jul 2011 in Fraserburg, South Africa in 5.00°C water and 10°C air: 23:38
6. Ray Butcher – Jul 2011 in Fraserburg, South Africa in 5.00°C water and 10°C air: 23:43
7. Rouen Smit – Jul 2011 in Fraserburg, South Africa in 5.00°C water and 10°C air: 23:57
8. Magda Okurková – Dec 2014 in Dun. Streda Slovakia in 4.23°C water and 0°C air: 24:05 (female)
9. Colin Hill – Feb 2013 in Lake Windermere, Cumbria, UK in 4.70°C water and 4.40°C air: 24:22
10. Andrew Chin – Jul 2011 in Fraserburg, South Africa in 5.00°C water and 10°C air: 24:24
11. Ned Denison – Feb 2013 in Lake Holborough, Kent, UK in 4.60°C water and 4.40°C air: 24:42
12. Henri Kaarma – Dec 2012 in Tyumen, Russia in 0.30°C water and -30°C air: 25:25
13. Colm Breathnach – Feb 2013 in Lough Dan, Co., Ireland in 3.60°C water and -3°C air: 25:25
14. Charlotte Brynn – May 2014 in Lake Champlain, USA in 4.96°C water and 14°C air: 25:27 (female)
15. Kieron Palframan – Jul 2011 in Fraserburg, South Africa in 5.00°C water and 10°C air: 25:28
16. Sabrina Wiedmer – Feb 2014 in Lough Dan, Co., Ireland in 3.30°C water and 3°C air: 25:51 (female)
17. Tim Stiff – Jul 2012 in Fraserburg, South Africa in 1.70°C water and -5°C air: 25:55
18. Gavin Pike – Mar 2014 in Paradaise Bay, Antarctica in 0.50°C water and 1°C air: 25:57
19. Gordon Gridley – Dec 2013 in Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA in 1.19°C water and 6°C air: 26:00
20. Ryan Stramrood – Jul 2012 in Fraserburg, South Africa in 1.70°C water and -5°C air: 26:18
21. Toks Viviers – Jul 2011 in Fraserburg, South Africa in 5.00°C water and 10°C air: 26:31
22. Cecilia Schutte – Jul 2011 in Fraserburg, South Africa in 5.00°C water and 10°C air: 26:45 (female)
23. Patrick Corcoran – Feb 2015 in Wild Water Co Armagh, Ireland in 4.30°C water and 5°C air: 26:47
24. Kieron Palframan – Jul 2012 in Fraserburg, South Africa in 1.70°C water and -5°C air: 27:05
25. Tim Stiff – Jul 2011 in Fraserburg, South Africa in 5.00°C water and 10°C air: 27:43
26. Heinrich Langner – Jul 2012 in Fraserburg, South Africa in 1.70°C water and -5°C air: 27:58
27. Ryan Stramrood – Jul 2010 in Fraserburg, South Africa in 4.50°C water and 5°C air: 28:00
28. Kieron Palframan – Jul 2010 in Fraserburg, South Africa in 4.50°C water and 5°C air: 28:00
29. Ram Barkai – Jan 2012 in Loch Fiskaley, Scotland in 2.00°C water and -2.5°C air: 28:03
30. Ryan Stramrood – Jul 2011 in Fraserburg, South Africa in 5.00°C water and 10°C air: 28:21
31. Mark Van Schaik – Jul 2011 in Fraserburg, South Africa in 5.00°C water and 10°C air: 28:29
32. Greg O’Connor – Apr 2013 in Boston Harbor, USA in 4.85°C water and -3.80°C air: 28:39
33. Fergal Somerville – Feb 2014 in Lough Dan, Co. Wicklow, Ireland in 3.30°C water and 3°C air: 28:49
34. Fergal Somerville – Feb 2013 in Lough Dan, Ireland in 3.60°C water and -3°C air: 28:50
35. Ram Barkai – Jul 2011 in Fraserburg, South Africa in 5.00°C water and 10°C air: 28:59
36. Brad Schindler – Feb 2013 in Lake Tahoe, California, USA in 4.88°C water and 0.50°C air: 29:04
37. Toni Enderli – Jul 2011 in Fraserburg, South Africa in 5.00°C water and 10°C air: 29:17
38. Elaine Howley – Dec 2012 in Boston Harbour, USA in 5.00°C water and 7.5°C air: 29:18 (female)
39. Ned Denison – Feb 2015 in Lough Dan, Ireland in 4.40°C water and 0°C air: 29:27
40. Duncan Haupt – Jul 2012 in Fraserburg, South Africa in 1.70°C water and -5°C air: 29:32
41. Jakub Valnicek – Dec 2014 in River Vltava, Czech Republic in 4.60°C water and -2°C air: 29:37
42. Paul Fowler – Dec 2013 in Shallow Water Lake, Lincolnshire, UK in 4.30°C water and 2°C air: 29:53

Ryan Stramrood is pictured above in Antartica.

Copyright © 2015 by World Open Water Swimming Association