Of the 1,001 officially registered International Ice Swimming Association Ice Miles in history (see IISA database here), Krzysztof Gajewski (33, Poland, IISA bio here, @krzysztofgajewski_swimmer, @gajewskiswimmingteam) has steadily redefined the potential limits of a Marathon Ice Swim.
On December 13th 2025, Gajewski completed the longest marathon ice swim in history with a 6.025 km swim in 4.18°C water and 9.70°C air temperatures that took 1 hour 52 minutes, swimming back and forth in a designated 25m pool in a lake in Kopalnia Wroclaw, Poland.
Earlier in his ice swimming career, he has gradually pushed himself further and colder in the water:
- In April 2025, he swam 3.03 km in 3.89°C water and -0.90°C air temperatures in 56 minutes 52 seconds in the sea at Stornes, Norway.
- In April 2023, he swam 6.0 km in 1 hour 46 minutes in 4.84°C water and 1.00°C air temperatures in a lake in Czarma Gora Resort, Poland.
- In March 2023, he swam 5.0 km in 1 hour 24 minutes in 4.84°C water and -0.50°C air temperatures in a pool at Kopalnia Wroclaw, Poland.
- In December 2022, he swam 1.97 km in -0.02°C water and 0.00°C air at 3,250m altitude in 43 minutes 8 seconds in Kopalnia Wroclaw, Poland.
- In December 2021, he swam 3.91 km in 3.39°C water and 4.60°C air temperatures, swimming in 1 hour 19 minutes in a lake in Kopalnia Wrocław, Paniowice, Poland.
How far and how cold will he eventually push himself?
The International Ice Swimming Association defines a Marathon Ice Swim as swimming 3 miles or longer in the water of 5.0°C or lower under IISA Rules and IISA Marathon swimming rules.
Other Renowned Marathon Ice Swimmers in History
- Krzysztof Kubiak swam 4.7 km over 1 hour 23 minutes in 3.87°C water and 2.9°C air in a lake in Poland in 2022
- Paul Georgescu swam 3.51 km over 57 minutes in 4.43°C water and 15°C air in Snagov Lake in Romania in 2021
- Hamza Bakircioglu swam 3.44 km over 1 hour 8 minutes in 4.13°C water and 0.0°C air in the sea in Germany in 2018
- Jack Boyle swam 3.32 km over 54 minutes in 4.63°C water and 8°C air in Wild Water Armagh in Ireland in 2016
- Carmel Collins swam 3.39 km over 57 minutes in 4.63°C water and 8°C air in Wild Water Armagh in Ireland in 2016
© 2025 Daily News of Open Water Swimming
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