Jackie Cobell, Ice Swimming Hall Of Fame Honor Swimmer
Courtesy of Ned Denison, Ice Swimming Hall of Fame.
“Jackie Cobell is always smiling, always helping, always inspirational,” says Steven Munatones. “Nothing she does is easy whether it is swimming across channels, working on dryland, and challenging the ice, but Jackie makes it look so easy, so blissful and so enjoyable. I do not know how this most incredible woman does it all. She is a truly special human being.”
Cobell was announced as an Honor Swimmer by the Ice Swimming Hall of Fame in its Class of 2020, selected by representatives from the world of winter swimming, ice swimming, and open water swimming including Paolo Chiarino of Italy, Ned Denison of Ireland, Elaine K Howley of the USA, Pádraig Mallon of Ireland, Leszek Naziemiec of Poland, Kieron Palframan of South Africa, Shelley Taylor-Smith of Australia, and Jonty Warneken of the UK.
Ned Denison explains, “The objective of the Ice Swimming Hall of Fame is to recognize and honor leading ice and winter swimmers and contributors to the sport of cold water swimming – and Jackie fits this definition.”
International Ice Swimming Association founder Ram Barkai confirmed her achievements – to date, because it is inevitable that she will continue adding to her legacy:
Certified Ice Miles:
· In December 2012, she did her first certified Ice Mile in Holborough Lake, Kent Great Britain in 42 minutes in 4.75°C water
Recorded Ice Kilometer Races with podium finishes:
· In March 2013 at the 79th Festival of the North Murmansk, age group gold medal in 23:02 in 0°C water
· In December 2015 at the International 7 Czech International ISA in Prague, age group gold medal in 30:04 in 4.7°C water
· In January 2017 at the International Ice Swimming Association World Championships in Burghausen, Germany, age group gold medal in 23:13 secs that set a Category World Record in 2.3°C water
International Winter Swimming Association events with podium finishes:
· January 22nd 2012 Jurmala 450m age group gold medal in 10:05 in 0.3°C water
· February 2nd 2013 Windermere 450m age group bronze medal in 4.6°C water
· March 24th 2013 Murmansk 450m age group gold medal in 9:43 in 0°C water
· February 11th 2013 Jelgavas Roni 450m age group gold medal
· December 14th 2013 Tyumen 150m age group gold + 25m age group silver + 300m age group bronze medal in 0°C water
· January 31st 2014 Windermere 450m age group silver medal in 5.9°C water
· February 22nd 2014 Pirita 450m age group gold medal in 9:42
· March 15th 2014 Murmansk 450m age group gold in 9:38 + 25m age group gold in 23.9 + 50m age group gold in 48.55 in 2°C water
· March 20th 2014 Rovaniemi 450m age group gold medal in 9:50 in 0°C water
· March 22nd 2014 Rovaniemi 50m age group silver medal in 52.68
· November 2014 Jelgavas 450m age group silver + 25m breaststroke age group bronze + 50m age group gold in 5°C water
· December 12th 2014 Tyumen 450m age group gold in 9:52 + 25m gold + 50m gold in 0.4°C water
· February 6th 2015 Windermere 450m age group silver in 10:13 + 120m age group gold + 60m age group bronze in 5.4°C water
· 2015 Pirita 450m age group silver in 9:58 + 50m age group bronze in 51.17
· November 2015 Jelgavas 450m age group silver in 11:21 secs + 50m age group bronze
· December 20th 2015 IISA Austria Urkunde River Danube 300m age group bronze + 25m age group gold in 7.4°C water
· January 30th 2016 IWSA U.S. National Championships Hudson River, New York 200m age group gold + 100m age group gold + 50m age group gold in 1.2°C water
· February 7th 2016 IWSA National Championships Windermere Ice Kilometer age group gold medal in 25:07 in 6.4°C water
· February 20th 2016 IISA Andark Lake Ice Kilometer age group gold in 24:04 in 5°C water
· March2016 IWSA World Championships Tyumen 450m age group gold in 10:38 + 200m age group gold in 4:14 + 100m age group silver in 1:57
· December 3rd 2016 Gdansk 450m age group silver medal in 4°C water
· January 5th 2017 IISA World Championships Burghausen Ice Kilometer age group gold medal and world record in 23:13 + IM age group silver + 200m age group silver + 500m age group bronze in 2.3°C water
· January 25th 2017 UK Cold Water Championships Tooting Bec 90m age group bronze in 1:45 + 30m butterfly age group bronze in 41:22 + podium finishes in all
First-ever epic swims:
· Member of the Bering Strait Relay to be the first to cross the Bering strait from Russia to Alaska
· Swam a 2-person 7 km relay with Matías Ola across the St. Carlos Strait between the East and West Falkland Islands in a Speedo Diplomacy swim between England and Argentina called Peace and Harmony in 6-7°C water
Other Considerations:
· Holds world record for the longest successful solo English Channel crossing in 28 hours 44 minutes
· First UK Ice Ambassador involved in the organization of the first UK Ice Mile event at Holborough Lake on October 2nd 2013 for four successful Ice Milers
· Was a member of the 46-mile Great Caledonian Swim Relay over 3 days on behalf of the Pancreatic Cancer Research Charity
· Coached and inspired many Ice Swimmers through the winter at Holborough Lake and at Dover in the UK
Cobell joins the following members of the Class of 2020 in the Ice Swimming Hall of Fame:
* Fergal Somerville of Ireland, Honor Contributor – Administrator
* Kate Steels of Great Britain, Honor Swimmer
* Petar Stoychev of Bulgaria, Honor Swimmer
* Christof Wandratsch of Germany, Honor Swimmer
* Antarctic Circle Challenge of South Africa, Honor Event
* Murmansk Winter Swimming of Russia, Honor Event
The Class of 2020 joins the following swimmers and contributors from the inaugural Class of 2019:
* Honor Swimmer and Honor Contributor – Administrator Ram Barkai of South Africa
* Honor Swimmer Aleksander Brylin of Russia
* Honor Swimmer Henri Kaarma of Estonia
* Honor Swimmer Jaimie Monahan of the USA
* Honor Swimmer Lewis Pugh of Great Britain
* Honor Contributor – Administrator Mariia Yrjö-Koskinen of Finland
* Honor Event Bering Strait Relay with individuals from 23 countries
* Honor Contributor – Media Steven Muñatones of the USA
For more information, photos and detailed biographies for the Ice Swimming Hall of Fame honorees and contributors of the Class of 2019 and the Class of 2020, visit www.IceSwimmingHallOfFame.com.
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