Plunging into icy waters - 9th February 2022

In Sweden, this year's annual cold swimming competition took place in the icy waters of Stockholm's Hellasgarden Nature Reserve.

Cold water swimming is an activity which is growing in popularity and this year the competition saw 156 competitors from 10 countries taking part.

Kalle is the competition organiser.

Kalle: "So, today we have 1.9 celsius degrees in the water and we have about 156 swimmers joining us."

Latvia was strongly represented in the competition and Maria was delighted to be taking the plunge in the icy waters of Sweden's capital.

Maria Yrjö-Koskinen: "So, this is a dream come true to be in beautiful Stockholm and this is a healthy lifestyle. We love it! We say, 'the colder the water, the warmer the friendship'."

Many are attracted to cold water swimming due to its reported health benefits. Aleksander, also from Latvia, is a devotee of the sport.

Aleksander: "You know this is excellent treatment, excellent opportunity to keep your body in a good fit and your mind clear, to get the positive emotions."

Anne-Françoise from Belgium is a newbie to the sport who had been regularly training in an outdoor pool. But how was her first race?

Anne-Françoise Melot: "It's amazing! The adrenaline, I'm not even cold as you can see. From an outsider's point of view, you must think we are nuts but it's such a blessing."

For some this may be their inaugural swim but for Lars, now 73, it's something he has done for most of his life.

Lars Avellan: "I started as a young teenager, so I've done it for a very long time."

Swimmers enjoy the warm atmosphere receiving medals after taking the freezing plunge.