Sometimes we all need to challenge ourselves, to leave our comfortable lives behind and to do something that puts us outside our comfort zone. The size of the challenges will vary from person to person. What is a challenge to one person is the norm to another, as we all differ so do the challenges we face.

I swim outdoors all year, I swim in sun, rain, wind, snow…but I took on a swim that was a challenge for me. I entered the International Polish Winter Championship 2025….GWSC – Gdynia Winter Swimming Cup. It was two days of racing in the icy waters of the Baltic Sea. I really was baltic in the Baltic.

The event took place at the Marina, but as an introduction to the Baltic I had a pre-competition dip in the choppy sea from the beach. Oh my, it was cold. The wind was blowing a hooley and the waves were vicious. I had travelled with my swim buddy, Victoria, and we met up with Karen and Dave…QSwim Adventure…and fellow USwim members Val, Amy and Julie.

We didn’t wear our neoprene gloves in preparation for the competition where we were not allowed them. The cold was ferocious on our fingers and toes, but we did it. I hadn’t been brave enough at home to go without and I was relying on Adrenalin to help me endure the pain. I emerged with all digits still intact and I felt amazing. This was what I had flown out to Poland for, the challenge and the excitement, for the chance to step outside my comfort zone. Once I had dipped in the Baltic I felt the adventure had truly begun.

Friday afternoon was registration. We picked up our swim passports which gave our swim times. This was it, we were ready, we were nervous, we were excited.

Saturday! Oh Lordy, this was the start. We met at the marina and shared pastries in the hope that some calories would boost our fight against the cold and give us a surge of energy….or maybe just distract us from the nerves.

Half an hour before our events we went into the changing tent. The one paltry heater wasn’t quite enough to warm us but the nerves were jingling enough to distract, until….we were called and walked to the ‘hot bus’. The wind was brutal as we stepped outside and it made the air temperature about -11. I was only swimming 25m but in those conditions it was challenging.

The hot bus was a lovely, warm interim. We waited until called and then we were led out to our lanes.

It made you feel quite special to have your name announced to the crowds. The breakwater and the lane barriers ensured flat water even though the wind whipped around us. The crowd were cheering but all we thought about was having to get in 3° water quickly. The rules were quite strict and we only had five seconds for each instruction. As we lined up the first announcement…Take off your clothes…robes and shoes were put in the boxes and carried round to the finish for us. Crikey, it was cold. It was an intense cold that felt very different to the coldness of Manchester. Get in the water. Five seconds to climb down the ladder, hold on with one hand and dip the shoulder of the other arm in the Baltic. Go. Swim swim swim. It was freezing but there was no time to think or worry about the cold. My hands hurt but I just swam. My feet went numb but I just swam. It was a relief to slam my hand on the board at the end and that was it. We had done it.

I felt incredible. What an absolute buzz. I felt I could do anything, but most of all I knew I could get through the three events I had on Sunday.

We all have our own challenges, mine was 25m on the Saturday. Dave swam 100m and won his heat easily, but Amy was an inspiration as she swam The Baltic Beast…1km. That’s 40 lengths in 3° in just a swimming costume and a swim hat. It was a privilege to watch her compete, she is a beautiful swimmer. My swim was 25m breaststroke and I couldn’t have water going over my head which was great as I didn’t want the brain freeze, but Amy was swimming freestyle. She cut through the water as sleekly as an otter and won her heat beautifully.

There were two mobile saunas which we warmed up in after the swims. When Amy had completed her swim and had all her layers and her dryrobe on she then went in the sauna…and still shivered!

Sunday was bathed in sunshine, but the water temp had dropped under 3º. We were nervous but had the confidence that we had already experienced the water. I had three events throughout the day and it started with the 50m breaststroke race. I actually came third in my age group….that was a win for the oldies!

50m is not a long distance, but when I turned for the second lap I could feel my fingers freezing, I thought a toe or two might have sunk to the bottom of the Baltic and the cold was trying to snatch my breath. I had a deep respect for Dave and Amy who had swum lap after lap, they really were amazing.

With the first race under our belts, Val, Julie and I had big grins in the sunshine. We sat in the sauna to warm up but I don’t think my toes….I double checked and I still had ten…ever thawed out throughout the day. We had some soup and prepared ourselves for event number two…the fancy dress fun swim.

We had decided on a Victorian swimsuit and Dave went as Captain Webb to celebrate the 150th anniversary of his Channel swim. We had made more effort than anyone else so everyone cheered us, everyone wanted photos and we felt fabulous. There was no pressure to race and we just enjoyed the swim.

We absolutely loved the attention and as we had our photos taken afterwards we didn’t notice the cold. Eventually we did have to warm up though, so it was back to sauna….with huge grins on our faces. We were the celebrities of the moment….and quite rightly we won the prize for the best costume!

The last event was the relay. There had to be a mix of sexes and so Julie was our first swimmer, followed by Val, then me and our fastest swimmer, Dave was fourth. There were some super teams who finished all their laps in half our time, but we had fun.

The championships were over, what an amazing experience it was. There were swimmers from all over the world, I sat in the sauna and chatted with a lady from Argentina, there were swimmers from Latvia, Austria, Holland, Belgium and elsewhere. Some were world champions, some were there for the experience like us. It didn’t matter about age, experience or ability as there was an event for everyone. We had a blast and were already talking about ‘next year’.

The whole experience was a challenge, it was rewarding and it was done alongside amazing friends. The cold was unbelievable but we overcame our fears and embraced everything. If anyone is thinking of entering this or similar events I can recommend it. If I can do it then so can you!

I can truly say….I WAS BALTIC IN THE BALTIC.