Latvian Winter Swimming Championship Returns to Liepāja After Several Years
After a hiatus of several years, the 17th Latvian Open Winter Swimming Championship will take place on November 23rd at the Beberliņi recreation area in Liepāja. Swimmers will compete in distances ranging from 25 to 450 meters.
Those interested in participating are invited to register on the website veloronis.lv, where the competition rules are also available. This marks the eighth time that Liepāja has hosted the open winter swimming competition.
The championship will be held in a specially created 5-lane pool in the Beberliņi reservoir. Swimmers will compete in eight main disciplines: 25m breaststroke, 25m freestyle, 25m butterfly, 50m freestyle, 100m breaststroke, 200m freestyle, 450m freestyle, and a 4x25m mixed club relay. There will also be two additional disciplines – one for young seals and one for seals. Participation is limited to 200 swimmers; registration may close earlier if this number is reached. Online registration is open until November 18th.
“The Winter Swimming Championship is not only an exciting sporting event but also an opportunity to promote a healthy lifestyle and the benefits of cold water immersion,” says Inga Krivcova, Chairperson of the Board of VeloRonis, the Liepāja cycling and winter swimming club. “Winter swimming is not only a physical activity but also a mental challenge that helps strengthen both body and mind. The competition also motivates people to improve their swimming skills.”
Organizers note that all participants will receive a starter kit with gifts from sponsors, and each swimmer will receive a uniquely designed medal. The fastest swimmers in each distance will receive various prizes from the competition sponsors.
To add to the festive atmosphere, a market featuring local producers and artisans will be held at the Beberliņi recreation area during the championship.
The Winter Swimming Championship is organized by the VeloRonis cycling and winter swimming club in cooperation with the International Winter Swimming Association (IWSA), with the support of the Liepāja City Municipality. More information about winter swimming, training, and competitions is available at veloronis.lv.
Photo: Jānis Bitenieks