Chasing Records in Icy Waters: Extreme NZ Ice Swimmer Aims to Defend World Records at Ice Champs!

I’m stoked to be part of the Frozen Ferns, the NZ national ice swimming team, heading to the International Ice Swimming Association’s 6th World Championships at Lake Molveno, Italy in January 2025. I have always wanted to represent NZ on the international stage so am beyond excited to get the opportunity to do this for the first, of hopefully many, times!

Ice swimming is an extreme sport involving swimming in water of temperature below 5°C (41°F) unassisted and with only a silicone cap, pair of goggles and standard swimming costume. Wetsuits and other swim aids are not permitted so swimmers must brave the cold alone. Despite being freezing and not very pleasant at many times, I find it a great mental and physical challenge alongside the most incredible community! Almost 700 swimmers from 44 countries are attending the championships and ice swimming has an overall goal of becoming a winter olympic sport. I am swimming four events at the championships (100 butterfly, 200 individual medley, 250 freestyle and 500 freestyle) and am the current open female world record holder in the 100 butterfly, 200 individual medley and 250 freestyle. I also hold the open female New Zealand and Oceania records in the 500 and 1000 freestyle.

Attending the championships is a user pays event so I am doing some fundraising to offset some of the costs, especially as I am a current university student rolling on a tight budget! Thank you so much for all the support, it’s greatly appreciated!

Emilia :)