The Global Bluetit Swim Team's upcoming 2026 adventure!
The Global Bluetit Swim Team will be attending the Winter Swimming World Championship in Oulu, Finland 2nd-8th March 2026, with air temperature expected to be below -10c and average water temperature at 0.2c. Swim distances will range from 25m up to 450m and the competition rules require wearing a standard swimming costume/trunks, plus a standard swim cap only – no neoprene, or woolly hats here! Note, medicals in advance, plus a doctor’s check at the event are required over 200m swims.
This is a bi-annual competition, though Covid delayed the 2022 competition to 2023. In Lake Bled, Solvenia January 2023, approx 30 intrepid Bluetits thought it would be fun to attend, mainly doing 25m individual and relay events – oh we so didn’t know what we had let ourselves in for! Being announced by name and the country we were representing as we took our starting place, following instructions to, ‘take your clothes off’, then ‘into the water’ (within 5 seconds), and finally a starter buzzer and we were off! We had so much fun and pushed our boundaries together as Bluetits that we were keen to do it all again in March 2024.
The idea of having a Global Bluetit Swim Team to support Bluetits that wanted to take part in Tallin, Estonia 2024 came to Sian… and when these sort of ideas get into her head they grow and grow. Soon Gail at HQ was on the case looking for sponsorship and so the team became a reality. The funding provided team kit for 60 Bluetits, but we actually had over 80 Bluetits attend. I am not sure quite how to summarise the comradeship, the belly laughs, the calming of panic attacks, the convincing each other we could do this, the amazement of Bluetits achieving things they never thought possible due to the support of each other. Bluetits breaking the ice so we could swim each morning, Bluetits winning medals, having 17 Bluetits relay teams on the final day, being part of a World Record largest winter swimming relay team, swimming at night in water under 1c with snow falling – certainly a week full of Bluetittery in its best most supportive form.
Oulu, Finland 2026 plans to be colder and bigger still – ever thought about pushing your coldwater limits in northern Finland? Look at the International Winter Swimming Association website, consider accommodation and flight options - we are all self-funded, plus speak to those that have been before. To apply to join the Global Bluetit Swim Team, register for the event through IWSA, then send evidence of registration the Bluetits HQ toot-toot@thebluetits.co …at that point the panic verses excitement sets in, but with the support of the Bluetits we all know we can be superhuman and achieve far more than we ever thought we can – the Global Bluetit hug affect!
See you there 2026?
Tracy Jones
(…known as the one who does the spreadsheets in the background for the team!)
To read more about how the 2024 event went, click here.
