Ice swimmer 'thrilled' to win World Championship

A woman who won the Winter Swimming World Championship in an "incredibly close competition", has said she is "thrilled to take the win".

Ice swimmer Erin Medcalf, from Birmingham, said there were "only a few points separating first to fourth" place, having taken the title after competing in a series of races held in near and below-freezing conditions across Europe.

She said respect among competitors was central, particularly for those in the water the longest.

"I truly have the utmost respect for whoever finishes last," she added. "As soon as I have finished my race, I am ready to get out."

She secured the title in Oulu, Finland, following events in Latvia, Poland, Sweden and Finland, where water temperatures dropped as low as -0.8C.

The competition is decided on a points system with results accumulated across multiple races during the season.

For Medcalf, the journey into ice swimming began unexpectedly during the 2020 lockdown after she was inspired by a book called Dover Solo, about an American woman who swam the English Channel.

"As part of her training, she swam outside all year," she said. "For some reason I decided it would be worth trying."

She then signed up to an introductory course.

"I rocked up in my wetsuit - which I was quickly told I would be taking off, and have never looked back," she said.

She explained that competitors wear only standard swimsuits known as "skins" along with a hat and goggles, with no wetsuit protection.

Medcalf explained how entering near-freezing water brought immediate physical effects.

"When you first get into the water you experience cold-water shock, which is where you hyperventilate for a few seconds," she explained.

She said managing breathing was essential before swimming began, as over time numbness and fatigue could set in as effort levels increase significantly.

"You might lose feeling of your feet and hands, or you can even get brain freeze."

Safety measures are built into competition, including controlled entry into the water and monitoring for hypothermia, while for longer races swimmers are observed by a designated support person.

For Medcalf, the appeal goes beyond competition.

"I get to travel to places I would never go to otherwise, make friends with people I would never normally meet," she said.

Looking ahead, she aims to qualify for a future world championship final in Argentina in 2028, although she acknowledged that came with financial challenges: "The vast majority of us work or study full-time and the majority of our costs are self-funded."

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.