Two Dorset Masters swimmers have just completed a chilly few days taking part in the Sixth International World Ice Swimming Championships 2025 in Molveno, Italy having been selected to represent GB. With the water hovering around 2C most days and the air temperature sub-zero, Liz Mills from Poole SC and Seagulls’ Wendy Bates nevertheless took to the water with Wendy telling the BBC that “Once you warm up, the buzz is such a good feeling afterwards.”
Ice swimming events take place in all four strokes, but swimmers do not dive at the start and they push off, rather than tumble, on turns; the longest distance is 1km.
Competing in the 45-49 years age group, Liz brought home silver and bronze medals in the 100m Butterfly and 50m Butterfly respectively, while finishing in fifth place in the 200m Individual Medley. In the 40-44 years age group, Wendy took fourth (500m Freestyle), seventh (250m Freestyle) and eighth (100m Freestyle) places. With 48 countries and 750 swimmers taking part, a significant achievement for both. Well done ladies!
Liz and Wendy train together at Shaftesbury Lido as well as with their home clubs. However, we doubt ice has to be removed from the pool very often before they can dive in!