Millie Bell, Vp Group Financial Accountant, competed in the GB Ice Swimming Championships that was held at Sandford Lido, Cheltenham. Over the weekend approximately 100 competitors raced in the 6.87 degree water, this included ex 2016 Olympic silver medallist, Dan Wallace.
Races range from 50m up to 1km with results being awarded in age groups and then overall. They are run under the international ice swimming association (IISA) whose vision is for ice swimming to become part of the Winter Olympics.
Ice Swimming is defined as swimming under 5 degrees and you are only allowed to wear a standard costume (no wetsuit!), 1 hat and a pair of goggles. As the water temperature was a tropical 6.87 degrees this weekend it meant no world records could be recorded (this wasn’t an issue for Millie!).
Millie competed in 4 events over the weekend and became Overall British Champion in the 250m also placing 2nd overall in the 500m, 3rd overall in the 1000m and 3rd overall in the 50m backstroke. She won her age group in all races!
In 3 weeks Millie will be competing at the European Championships in Romania, where she’ll be racing in the 500m, 250m, 100m and 50m free.
From everyone at Vp, congratulations and good luck at the European Championships in Romania!