It’s true! I had a medal hung around my neck and the words “Congratulations, you are Swedish Champion” said to me. There wasn’t hundreds of people competing in my class (50 m freestyle). Certainly not in my age group … but if I’m told I’m the Swedish Champion I’ll take it!
The sport is winter swimming and a year ago I had no idea I would be doing it. I started taking “dips” in cold water because my neighbour suggested we should. I got hooked. Then THEY started showing up at our pontoon. The REAL Winter Swimmers. Hellas Vintersim. I was very impressed. And intrigued. They looked pretty normal but they treated the icy water like it was just … water. We started talking and that was it. I was on my way to become Swedish Champion in Winter Swimming.
The race on Saturday was my first ever Winter Swimming race, Stockholm Winter Swim Open – The Swedish Championship in Winter Swim. I was excited, nervous and really pumped to enter into this new world.
Black water and lane lines
Walking down to the start i was smiling and my heart was pumping. Then the officials called out “clothes off”, “in the water”, “on your marks” (which in winter swimming means one hand on the ladder and the opposite shoulder in the water). The whistle blows and BOOM! 5 seconds later I crash into the line! Dark lake water and lane lines was a new experience to me. At least my fingers were too cold to hurt!
I made a surprisingly good turn (tumble turns are forbidden in winter swimming and I never learned how to anyway!) and managed a pretty good time!
The team relay was awesome. 25m breaststroke x 4. I’m standing on the pontoon in my bikini after swimming in 1c water screaming as Alexis smashed the final stretch giving our team the victory in our heat. Cold totally irrelevant.
Do it!
I learned that my body can do so much more than I thought, I made new friends, I found a new source of endorphins and adrenaline. And I became the Swedish Champion. Next time someone suggests you try something new – do it. You never know where it will take you! “
Catarina
