A swim coordinator at Ferry Leisure Centre has completed one of the world’s most demanding cold-water endurance events, finishing the Ice Mile after swimming one mile in water temperatures below 5°C.
Joanne Jones, who works as Swim Coordinator at the Oxford leisure centre, completed the 1,609.3-metre open water challenge in Doncaster in 29 minutes and 19 seconds.
The Ice Mile is recognised internationally as one of the most extreme swimming challenges because of the risks linked to cold shock and hypothermia. Participants must complete the full mile in near-freezing water under strict safety supervision.
To qualify, Joanne first competed in the Really Cold Swimming Championships, where she finished third overall in the 1,000m event in water temperatures below 2°C.
Although the final challenge took place in freezing open water, she said regular training in the heated pool at Ferry Leisure Centre remained essential to her preparation.
“In the cold water you lose feeling in your hands and feet, so your ‘feel’ for the water disappears. I wanted as good a form as possible, so I spent a lot of time in the pool at Ferry practicing swim sets that trained my technique. Starting from best practice meant that I would swim well for as long as possible, even as the cold affected my strength and speed.
“I swam at Ferry, one to two times a week, using structured swim sets to maintain technique, stamina and pacing. I combined this with weekly cold-water swims as lake temperatures dropped, fitting sessions around work and family commitments.
“During the Ice Mile, I felt extremely safe with the safety team and boat next to me guiding me around the loop. Recovering took me the best part of 90 minutes with lots of layers, hot water bottles, and hot drinks, plus sugary snacks to help my body recover as I shivered. It was an amazing experience, and I join a select group of people, less than 700 in the world, who have done this.”
Joanne previously became GB Ice Swim Champion over 500m in 2020 and also competed in the 2023 Ice Swim World Championships. Her previous endurance swims include solo crossings of the English Channel, Bristol Channel and Lake Windermere.
Chewe Munkonge said: “Congratulations to Joanne as she completed the Ice Mile. This is a fantastic achievement, and I am pleased that Ferry Leisure Centre was able to play a part in her success and support her in her training process.”
