Winter Swimming World Championships in Oulu attracted a lot of
international media attention
Championship to Finland in each series
The Winter Swimming World Championships took place in the beach area of the
Raatinsaari Island in Oulu during the weekend of March 3-5. Swimmers from a
total of 18 countries participated in this unique cold swimming event and
wintry carnival. Participating nations included such countries as Australia
and Lebanon, together with several Middle-European countries. As expected,
Finnish, Russian and British swimmers turned out to be among the best. The
sunny weather attracted plenty of local people to witness the competition
series on Saturday. Each of the World Championships competition series was won
by a Finnish participant. The fastest swimmer of the Championships was Tero
Matkamäki of Joensuu Polar Bears, whose time 15,69 (25 meters) is a world
record.
Competition series results
This time it was only Finnish, Russian and British swimmers that managed to
win World Championships medals. Finnish swimmers earned a total of 12 gold, 5
silver and 9 bronze medals. Russian swimmers achieved 4 silver and 2 bronze
medals, while the British team earned 3 silvers and a bronze.
In Class A for females, the young Henna Järvinen of Oulu Swimming Club
performed excellently and won with the time of 19.55. In Class A for males, it
was Teemu Vitikka of Oulu Winter Swimming Club, who took the championship with
the time of 16.88. The World Champions in the other female series are Tiina
Kaatikko of Seinäjoki (21.54), Päivi Korpela of Seinäjoki (20,97), Maarit
Sihvonen of Oulu (20,39), Ulla Laamanen of Saaronniemi (24,50) and Arja
Selenius of Punkaharju (26,56). The World Champions in the other male series
are Aki Sirkka of Oulu (17,66), Tero Matkaniemi of Joensuu (15,60), Juha
Korhonen of Kotka (17,22), Markku Vihervaara of Tampere (21,04) and Risto
Blomberg of Kuusijärvi (22,22).
11 countries participated in the swimming relays
A total of 11 countries took part in the swimming relays (4 X 25 meters) on
Sunday. Not surprisingly, Finland took the championship with the time of
0,55,22. Russia was second (0,56,92). Australia was third (1,06,70), followed
by Britain, Latvia, Ireland, Canada, Norway, Lebanon, Germany and Kazakhstan.
Hilarious team swimming show
The final competition of the event was a colorful team swimming show, the
main prize of which was 1 000 euros. The prestigious jury awarded the main
prize to the Russian team, whose performance was called “Swan Lake”. The most
hilarious moment of the contest was experienced as four big Russian men in
skirts and feather headdresses performed as ballerinas. Worth mentioning is
also the amusing and well-prepared performance of the South London Swimming
Club.
The most famous cold swimmer in the world
One of the most interesting participants was Lewis Gordon Pugh from Great
Britain who has built up an impressive list of cold swimming records. On
Saturday, Pugh finished fifth in his series, and on Sunday he challenged the
Russians for a friendly competition. The water of 0 degrees Celsius could not
stop him from winning the 500-meter race easily. His competitors were Vladimir
Nefatov and Aleksandr Brylin, who had traveled to the Championships all the
way from the Amur in Siberia, close to the Chinese border.
Cold Swimming Seminar on health and vitality
In addition to the actual swimming events, the Cold Swimming Seminar on the
health effects of winter swimming also attracted a lot of international
attention. Governor Eino Siuruainen held the opening speech, and other
speakers included docent Juhani Smolander, together with swimming travel
organizer Simon Murie and actress Lucy Petrie Scott, both winter swimming
enthusiasts from Britain. In addition, former Russian Army General Vladimir
Lyotov from Moscow told the audience about his personal cold swimming
experiences. Medical Director Jarmo Karpakka, a keen winter swimmer himself,
was the dedicated and inspiring Chairman of the Seminar.
Plenty of international media attention
The Championships attracted a lot of international media attention. Among
others, the event was covered by New York –based TV company HBO, Russian TV
company NTV, Reuters journalists from Britain and Sweden, as well as a
journalist group from Slovakia. The American and Russian stations alone reach
millions of people all over the world. Russian NTV covered the swimming event
on Sunday, and the event is broadcast on Monday evening to 140 million viewers.
International media representatives were most happy with the event, admiring
the local hospitality and know-how in Oulu.
Arrangements were a success
The competition venue near the Oulu city centre was considered excellent by
both swimmers and the audience. The ice pool was located at a beautiful spot,
and the facilities for the audience were excellent. At the beach there was a
sauna for the participants of the Young Seals and Seals series. The saunas in
an igloo and in a bus were extremely popular, as well as the hot tub, which
was enjoyed by numerous joyful participants, regardless of age or nationality,
The arrangements were carried out successfully by a total of 150 volunteers
representing the Oulu Winter Swimming Club, the Oulu Swimming Club and the
Central Association for Recreational Sports and Outdoor Activities in Finland.
The preparations were started over a year ago, after the Winter Swimming
Finnish Championships 2005 in Oulu.
- What we achieved is absolutely worth our efforts”, says Mariia
Yrjö-Koskinen, Chairman of the Organizing Committee.
With its voluntary work, the main organizer Oulu Winter Swimming Club aim
to promote winter swimming and its positive health effects. Furthermore, the
club is devoted to creating a unique, wintry event for all the guests and the
people of Oulu.
The next World Championships
This successful international event will takes place again after two years,
hopefully in London.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CAN BE OBTAINED FROM:
Mariia Yrjö-Koskinen
President, Oulu Winter Swimming Club.
Chairman of the Organizing Committee
+358-40-824 9326
mariia.yk@hongisto.fi
Aila Toivonen
Communications and PR Manager
+358-40-7388 305
aila.toivonen@ananda.fi
Further information about Lewis Gordon Pugh can be obtained from his own
website: www.lewispugh.com.
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