Event Director and Referee Anna Valeria Zuccolotto Soto (40, IISA bio here, MSF bio here), Medical Officer Juan De La Trinidad Silva (IISA bio here), and IISA Official Xochitl Ponce Barbosa organized the first the 2026 ICE Challenge in Lake Situriachi, Chihuahua in northern Mexico on January 11th. An Ice Mile was scheduled, but with the water temperature at 7.16°C water (along with 3°C air temperature), the event was not held.
Three 32-year-old competed in the 500m race: Teodor Tsvetkov (8:50.00), Andres Guillermo Lopez Pinto (8:56.00), and Maria Teresa Robles Dominguez (14:10.00). Four Mexicans competed in the 250m freestyle: Jose Luis Jaquez Escarcega (4:51.00), Gloria Cuevas (6:21.00), Francisco Marquez (6:22.00), and Andres Jaquez (06:27.00).
Tsvetkov (1:44.00) later competed in the 100m freestyle where he followed 62-year-old Jose Perez (1:39.00).
Mexico now has 33 members of the International Ice Swimming Association:
- Alicia Lopez Negrete Garcia (IISA bio here), 1 Ice Mile
- Andres Jaquez (28, IISA bio here)
- Angelica Cuapio (44, IISA bio here)
- Anna Valeria Zuccolotto Soto (40, IISA bio here, MSF bio here), 2 Ice Miles + IISA 6th World Championship)
- Arleen González Perez (43, IISA bio here, MSF bio here), 1 Ice Mile + 2 Ice Kilometers
- Carlos Franco Cantón (51, IISA bio here): 2 Ice Kilometers
- Hugo Ramírez Sierra (IISA bio here)
- Jorge Garcia (46, IISA bio here)
- José Vipoux (42, IISA bio here): IISA 6th World Championship
- Lucila Zerecero (51, IISA bio here)
- Miguel Humberto Perez (IISA bio here)
- Patricia Laurette Paredes Villareal (IISA bio here)
- Paulina Javalera (32, IISA bio here)
- Rodrigo Gutierrez Vazquez (29, IISA bio here)
- Ursus Gonzales (IISA bio here)
- Xochitl Ponce Barbosa (49, IISA bio here)
- Abel Lopez (57, IISA bio here)
- David Eduardo Cortes (28, IISA bio here)
- Elda Graciela Lozano (59, IISA bio here)
- Francisco Marquez (53, IISA bio here)
- Gloria Cuevas (60, IISA bio here)
- Jose Perez (IISA bio here)
- Jose Manuel Coronado (41, IISA bio here)
- Juan De la Trinidad Silva (48, IISA bio here)
- Jose Luis Jaquez Escarcega (37, IISA bio here)
- Julio Millan (30, IISA bio here)
- Luis Ugalde (46, IISA bio here)
- Luis Fernando Alonso (25, IISA bio here)
- Maria Teresa Robles Dominguez (31, IISA bio here)
- Renatta Martinez (25, IISA bio here)
- Saul Salinas (IISA bio here)
- Yasmin Arelis Cruz Chavez IISA bio here)
© 2026 Daily News of Open Water Swimming
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