Ice Swimming
Long-form swimming in water below 5 °C — races from 50 m to a full "ice mile" (1,609 m).
👥1 per team🌤outdoor
What is Ice Swimming?
Ice swimming, sanctioned by the International Ice Swimming Association since 2009, is a long-distance swimming sport in water below 5 °C. Swimmers wear only a standard suit, cap and goggles (no wetsuit). Events run from 50 m sprints up to the flagship "ice mile" (1,609 m) and rare 1 km events. World championships include team relays.
Quick facts
Category
Aquatic Sports
Type
Individual
Players
1 per team
Where played
outdoor
Country of origin
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Estimated origin
Traditional cold-water swimming everywhere; ice-mile sport codified 2009 (IISA)
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
Sources & provenance
Last verified 2026-08-24.verified