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Kate Steels
IISA Board, Secretary
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Southampton
England |
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Country Association
Great Britain |
ICE ID: | 110 |
Gender: | Female |
Age: | 53 |
Ice Miles: | 11 |
ICE 7s: | 7 |
Extreme: | 1 |
I feel very proud to have been inducted as Honour Swimmer into the Ice Swimming Hall of Fame, Class of 2020.
I love to swim wherever I can - in the sea, rivers, lakes and swimming pool (Masters), in the UK and abroad. I enjoy open water swimming all year round. The buzz I get from ice swimming is amazing, and in the summer I really enjoy long distance / endurance swimming together with a variety of competitions and events. The camaraderie and friendship amongst the open water and ice swimming community is second to none.
My first cold water competition in cold water was at Tooting Bec Lido for the UKCWSC in 2013 where I won a bronze medal. However it wasnt until 2014, after the Jinan Festival of Springs Competition in China that I got a real taste of serious ice swimming. I travelled up to Harbin in the far NE of China and had several dips with the local ice swimming club. The air was -33 C .... it took an hour at dawn to clear the river pool from thick ice that formed each day, but the swimming was amazing.
In January 2015 I did my first official Ice Mile and then in March I was selected to represent the UK in the First World Ice Swimming Championships 1km in Murmansk, Russia. This was a serious challenge but one that I was very excited about and I trained extremely hard for. I had been swimming in local lakes and rivers 4-5 times a week. I had spent a week in Snowdonia hiking to the coldest lakes I could find to swim twice daily. Then, shortly before travelling to Russia I was given an old bath and resorted to having ice baths in my back garden !! The atmosphere and venue in Murmansk was spectacular -we were all treated like Olympians. The water was marginally above freezing and the air sub zero. I swam late in the day, after the solar eclipse. Soon after I started swimming the sun went behind the clouds and it snowed heavily. I was thrilled to finish the event and ecstatic to learn later that I had won a gold in my age group and set a new world record for my age group.
I am lucky enough to have travelled, and taken part in ice swims in many wonderful places. One particularly memorable trip was in March 2017 when I was lucky enough to be part of a swimming expedition to Arctic Norway. The fjord scenery was stunning, the sea crystal clear and icy cold. I successfully completed my Polar Ice Mile here.
The hardest swim I have ever done was the Ice Zero - my Ice Mile in China on Christmas Eve 2017. I am extremely pleased to have achieved this but certainly have no desire to repeat it!!
Some of my other swimming achievements include a 20 Bridges / Manhattan, USA (47km) 2018, English Channel Solo 2016 (32km), Lake Zurich Solo 2014 (26,4km) a 4 person relay around the Isle of Wight 2014 (58 miles) as well as a large number of shorter swims and competitions in the UK and abroad.
I am always pleased to be able to give something back to the swimming community and to inspire others. I have supported several swimmers doing cross channel solos and taken on the role of WOWSA observer for world record Iron Swim attempts in Tunisia.
I have established a cold water swim club, Swanwick Seals, at Andark Dive Lake, Lower Swanwick, Hampshire, and have successfully secured grant funding for a club sauna. Please find us on facebook if you would like to join - everyone welcome.
Finally, I would like to thank all my friends and family who have supported me over the years and helped me succeed in my swims.
Swim Date | Swim Location |
Water Temp |
Wind Chill |
Swim Dist. |
Swim Time |
Body of Water |
Altitude (m) GPS Latitude |
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1 | 31 Jan 2015 | Andark Lake, Bursledon, Sou... | 3.90°C | -1.00°C | 1.0300mi | 0:32:50 | Open Water | 50.88°N | ![]() |
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2 | 3 Dec 2016 | Andark Lake, Lower Swanwick... | 4.80°C | 2.20°C | 1.0000mi | 0:31:38 | Pool | 50.88°N | ![]() |
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3 | 4 Mar 2017 | Mikkelvik Brygge, Norway | 2.37°C | -7.30°C | 1.0600mi | 0:33:16 | Sea | 70.01°N | ![]() |
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4 | 15 Dec 2017 | Lac Aguelmame Sidi Ali, Atl... | 3.83°C | -2.00°C | 1.1300mi | 0:35:00 | Lake | 33.08°N | ![]() |
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5 | 24 Dec 2017 | South Lake, Shuangyashan Ci... | 0.90°C | -22.10°C | 1.0100mi | 0:35:05 | Lake | 46.65°N | ![]() |
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6 | 3 Mar 2018 | Lee-On-Solent, Hampshire, UK | 3.07°C | 0.20°C | 1.0600mi | 0:33:04 | Sea | 50.80°N | ![]() |
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7 | 21 Apr 2019 | Lake Simcoe, Beaverton, Canada | 4.13°C | 7.90°C | 1.0000mi | 0:31:42 | Lake | 44.43°N | ![]() |
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8 | 31 Aug 2019 | Lake Lyndon, New Zealand | 3.93°C | 4.50°C | 1.0500mi | 0:31:57 | Lake | 43.30°S | ![]() |
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9 | 21 Nov 2021 | Lake Esmeralda, Ushuaia, Ar... | 4.33°C | -1.60°C | 1.0100mi | 0:29:19 | Glacial Lake | 500m 54.69°S | ![]() |
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10 | 22 Jan 2022 | Llanwit, Wales, UK | 4.60°C | 4.40°C | 1.0100mi | 0:28:49 | Pool | 10m 51.40°N | ![]() |
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11 | 28 Jan 2023 | Andark Lake, Oslands Lane, ... | 3.97°C | 6.10°C | 1.0100mi | 0:29:47 | Lake | 30m 50.52°N | ![]() |
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Swim Date |
Event Name | Country Association |
Event Venue | Swim Time |
Water Temp |
Wind Chill |
Altitude (m) GPS Latitude |
AR | ER | WR | WC | |||
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1 | 20 Mar 2015 | IISA 1st World Champio... | Russian Federation | Lake Semenovskoye, Mur... | 19:30.00 | 0.08°C | -5.00°C | AR | ![]() |
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2 | 20 Feb 2016 | IISA Great Britain IK ... | Great Britain | Andark Lake, Southampt... | 17:48.00 | 5.00°C | 0.00°C | ![]() |
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3 | 26 Feb 2016 | Estonian 1km Ice Swimm... | Estonia | Tallinn | 18:43.00 | 0.00°C | 0.00°C | ![]() |
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4 | 6 Jan 2017 | 2nd Ice Swimming Aqua ... | Germany | Burghausen, Bavaria | 18:44.18 | 3.40°C | -11.10°C | ![]() |
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5 | 11 Feb 2017 | Ice Cup & GB Ice Swimm... | Great Britain | The Cruin, Loch Lomond... | 20:09.00 | 4.20°C | 0.90°C | 56.02°N | Open Water | ![]() |
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6 | 25 Feb 2018 | IISA GB Championships | Great Britain | Hatfield Outdoor Activ... | 17:40.36 | 3.60°C | 1.10°C | ![]() |
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7 | 18 Mar 2019 | IISA III World Champ M... | Russian Federation | murmansk, semyonovskoe... | 17:31.32 | 0.00°C | -6.30°C | ![]() |
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8 | 6 Jan 2020 | 6th Ice Swimming Aqua ... | Germany | Veitsbronn Germany | 18:15.90 | 2.80°C | 4.00°C | ![]() |
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9 | 15 Jan 2023 | 5th World Championship... | France | Samoens | 16:33.80 | 3.70°C | 2.00°C | ![]() |
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Event Distance | Swim Date | Event Name | Event Venue | Country Association |
Swim Time (mm:ss:cc) |
Water Temp |
Wind Chill |
Altitude (m) GPS Latitude |
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500m Freestyle | 25 Feb 2018 | IISA GB Championships | Hatfield Outdoor Activ... | Great Britain | 08:31.75 | 3.60°C | 1.1°C | 53.58°N | ![]() |
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500m Freestyle | 18 Mar 2019 | IISA III World Champ M... | murmansk, semyonovskoe... | Russian Federation | 08:22.23 | 0.00°C | -6.3°C | 68.97°N | ![]() |
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500m Freestyle | 6 Jan 2020 | 6th Ice Swimming Aqua ... | Veitsbronn Germany | Germany | 08:40.10 | 2.80°C | 4.0°C | 49.51°N | ![]() |
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500m Freestyle | 15 Jan 2023 | 5th World Championship... | Samoens | France | 07:46.79 | 3.70°C | 2.0°C | 1000m 46.06°N | ![]() |
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100m Freestyle | 15 Jan 2023 | 5th World Championship... | Samoens | France | 01:23.72 | 3.70°C | 2.0°C | 1000m 46.06°N | ![]() |
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100m Breaststroke | 11 Feb 2017 | Ice Cup & GB Ice Swimm... | The Cruin, Loch Lomond... | Great Britain | 02:41.00 | 4.20°C | 0.9°C | 56.02°N | ![]() |
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50m Freestyle | 18 Mar 2019 | IISA III World Champ M... | murmansk, semyonovskoe... | Russian Federation | 00:41.04 | 0.00°C | -6.3°C | 68.97°N | ![]() |
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50m Breaststroke | 18 Mar 2019 | IISA III World Champ M... | murmansk, semyonovskoe... | Russian Federation | 00:46.79 | 0.00°C | -6.3°C | 68.97°N | ![]() |
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50m Breaststroke | 15 Jan 2023 | 5th World Championship... | Samoens | France | 00:48.62 | 3.70°C | 2.0°C | 1000m 46.06°N | ![]() |
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Swim Date |
Swim Location |
Event Name | Swim Distance |
Stroke | Status | Water Temp |
Wind Chill |
Swim Time |
Altitude (m) |
Observer | |||
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1 | 20 Feb 2016 | Andark Lake, Lower... | 1000m | Crawl | Accepted | 5.00°C | 0.00°C | 17:48.00 | - | Rory Fitzgerald | ![]() |
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2 | 03 Dec 2017 | Keepers Pond, Brecon... | 1010m | Crawl | Accepted | 2.90°C | 4.00°C | 18:08.00 | - | Cath Pendleton | ![]() |
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3 | 06 Dec 2018 | Tyumen | 500m | Crawl | Accepted | 0.50°C | -20.00°C | 08:42.00 | - | Rory Fitzgerald | ![]() |
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4 | 05 Jan 2019 | IISA GB Champs 2019,... | 1000m | Crawl | Accepted | 5.50°C | 4.50°C | 17:52.00 | - | Andrea Startin | ![]() |
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5 | 06 Jan 2019 | IISA Gb Champs, Hatfield | 500m | Crawl | Accepted | 5.50°C | 7.00°C | 08:27.00 | - | Andrea Startin | ![]() |
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6 | 15 Nov 2021 | Ushuaia | 3000m | Crawl | Accepted | 8.90°C | 0.00°C | 51:10.00 | - | Rory Fitzgerald | ![]() |
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7 | 06 Jan 2019 | Hatfield Outdoor... | IISA GB Championships... | 1000m | Crawl | Accepted | 5.50°C | 4.50°C | 17:52.00 | - | Kate Steels | ![]() |
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8 | 29 Dec 2019 | Amsterdam, The Amstel | Amstel Ice Swim | 1000m | Crawl | Accepted | 5.30°C | -2.80°C | 19:19.84 | - | Fergil Hesterman | ![]() |
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9 | 23 Feb 2020 | SANDFORD LIDO | IISA GB CHAMPIONSHIPS | 1000m | Crawl | Accepted | 6.50°C | 0.00°C | 16:36.32 | - | Kate Steels | ![]() |
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10 | 06 Jan 2019 | Hatfield Outdoor... | IISA GB Championships... | 500m | Crawl | Accepted | 5.50°C | 4.50°C | 08:27.00 | - | Kate Steels | ![]() |
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11 | 29 Dec 2019 | Amsterdam, The Amstel | Amstel Ice Swim | 500m | Crawl | Accepted | 5.30°C | -2.80°C | 09:28.81 | - | Fergil Hesterman | ![]() |
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12 | 23 Feb 2020 | SANDFORD LIDO | IISA GB CHAMPIONSHIPS | 500m | Crawl | Accepted | 6.50°C | 0.00°C | 08:10.00 | - | Kate Steels | ![]() |
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13 | 12 Feb 2023 | Sandford Lido | IISA GB 2023... | 250m | Crawl | Accepted | 5.47°C | 10.60°C | 03:44.25 | 0m | Kate Steels | ![]() |
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14 | 12 Feb 2023 | Sandford Lido | IISA GB 2023... | 100m | Crawl | Accepted | 5.47°C | 10.60°C | 01:22.03 | 0m | Kate Steels | ![]() |
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Relay Distance | Swim Date | Event Name | Event Venue | Country Association |
Swim Time (mm:ss:cc) |
Water Temp |
Wind Chill |
Altitude (m) GPS Latitude |
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4 x 50m Mixed Freestyle Relay | 15 Jan 2023 | 5th World Championship... | Samoens | France | 02:36.99 | 3.70°C | 2.0°C | 1000m 46.06°N | view | |
4 x 50m VIP Relay | 15 Jan 2023 | 5th World Championship... | Samoens | France | 02:18.90 | 3.70°C | 2.0°C | 1000m 46.06°N | view |
Swim Date |
Location (Description) |
Time Taken |
Swim Distance |
Avg Dist. Per Day |
Water Temp |
Wind Chill |
Observer / Witness |
Awards | ||
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1 | 28 Nov 2016 | Serpentine Pond, London (Swim) |
18:20 | 1,000 m | - | 4.4°C [hi] 0°C [lo] |
2°C | Matthew Johnston | view |