Susie Nolan Loiselle, Secretary of the International Ice Swimming Association USA, shared the names and backgrounds of the swimmers representing Team USA at the IISA 6th World Championship in Molveno, Italy next week between January 13th – 19th, 2025.

The International Ice Swimming Association (@international_ice_swimming) was formed in 2009 by Ram Barkai of South Africa who outlined a long-term vision to introduce the Ice Kilometer as a new Winter Olympic sport. Molveno makes it one more major international event closer. With the dream of a handful of South African swimmers, the IISA currently holds ice swimming events in 46 countries with 5,480 representatives from 73 countries – with 754 athletes from 48 countries around the world competing in Molveno next week.

Led by IISA USA chairperson Joe Zemaitis with his fellow board members Rena Demeo, Andrew Wallace, Susie Nolan Loiselle, and Martha Wood, Team USA includes a college professor, authors, a librarian, a dairy farmer, coaches, a national park range, artists, an Olympian, college students, an Iron Iceman, an Iron Icewoman, an International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Honor Swimmer, retirees, and the following athletes:

• David McGlynn, PhD (48): a professor, author, writer for Swimmer Magazine and marathon swimmer, IISA bio here
• Tricia Elmer (65): an experienced marathon swimmer from Seattle, Washington, IISA bio here
• Mary Ann Best (61): a two-time Ice Miler from Gary, Indiana who swims in Lake Michigan, IISA bio here
• Qing Li: (34, @cha_qing) a Triple Crowner who completed a 29-day Ironman-Ice Mile turnaround, IISA bio here
• Gerald George (66): 2-time Ice Miler, 2-time Ice Kilometer, and marathon swimmer, IISA bio here
• Louise Hyder-Darlington (64): founder of Penn Heron Open Water Club, 1-mile Beagle Channel, Antarctica, IISA bio here
• Claire Hilbers (46, @clairehilbers): Memphremagog Winter Swim Festival, trail and ultra marathon runner, IISA bio here
• Puranjot Kaur (44): coach, pioneering marathon swimmer
• Mariah Reading (30, @mariahreading): swimmer since the age of 7, Memphremagog Winter Swim Festival, IISA bio here
• Brian Jaskot (46, @br18n): Ice Miler, winter swimmer, and marathon swimmer, IISA bio here
• Elaine Howley (47, @emkhowley): 2-time Ice Miler, IISA World Championship, channel & marathon swimmer, IISA bio here 
• Juliet Kadlecek (55, @julietkad): CIBBOWS board member, IISA bio here
• Jacqueline Broner (59): Executive Director of CIBBOWS, IISA bio here
• Vera Rivard (@vera_team_rivard): 2-time Ice Miler, Triple Crowner, longest tandem swim on record, IISA bio here
• Chris Ballard (51, @chrisballard33): writer for Sports Illustrated Magazine, IISA USA National Championships, IISA bio here
• Andie Nelson (47, @andienelsonswims): Marathon swimmer, IISA USA National Championships, IISA bio here
• Margaret Gadzic (45): founder of the Buckeye Bluetits chapter in Ohio, IISA USA National Championships, IISA bio here
• Mary James (43): Buckeye Bluetits Chill swimmer, Memphremagog Winter Swim Festival, IISA bio here
• Lisa Yamamoto (31): 2-time Ice Miler, IISA 5th World Championship, pioneering marathon swimmer, IISA bio here
• Janet Manning (60): IISA 5th World Championship, IISA USA National Championships, ice pool carver, IISA bio here
• Susie Nolan Loiselle (60): IISA USA board secretary, IISA USA National Championships, IISA bio here
• Stephen Rouch (44): Ice Miler, Iron Iceman, IISA USA National Championships, marathon swimmer, IISA bio here
• John Zemaitis (@swimbrothersusa): IISA 5th World Championship, IISA USA Nationals, marathon swimmer, IISA bio here
• Joe Zemaitis (44, @joe.zemaitis): IISA 5th World Championship, Ice Miler, IMSHOF Honor Swimmer, IISA bio here
• Keaton Jones (20, @keatonjones_swim): 2024 Paris Olympian (5th in 200m backstroker), 5-time winner at IISA 5th World Championship, multiple IISA world record holder, IISA bio here
• Martha Wood (62, @mox_in_sox_2): Ice Miler, Antarctica Ice Kilometer, channel and marathon swimmer, IISA bio here
• Danny Hatfield (55): IISA bio here
• Martin Davies: IISA USA National Championships, IISA bio here
• Ted Hirsch (64): Ice Miler, IISA USA National Championships, IISA bio here
• Ed Gabriels (63): IISA USA National Championships, IISA bio here
• Scott Lautman (72): IISA 3rd World Championship, IISA 5th World Championship, channel swimmer, IISA bio here
• Mark Lautman (75): IISA 3rd World Championship, IISA 5th World Championship, channel swimmer, IISA bio here
• Elizabeth Almond (51): Ice Miler, IISA 5th World Championship, channel swimmer, IISA bio here
• Andrew Wallace (59): Ice Miler, marathon swimmer, IISA bio here
• Ezmee Jones (20, @ezmeejones): IISA 5th World Championship, IISA bio here
• Rena Demeo (55): Ice Miler, IISA 5th World Championship, IISA USA National Championships, IISA bio here
• Jennifer Hynes (45): IISA USA National Championships, Memphremagog Winter Swimming Festival, IISA bio here
• Virginia Peck (79): Memphremagog Winter Swimming Festival, IISA bio here
• Lara Henrichs (55): IISA USA National Championships, IISA bio here
• Amy Meskill (34): IISA Level 1 certified observer, IISA bio here

IISA founder Ram Barkai (@rambarkai_iceswimmer) says, “The IISA 6th World Championship is bound to be freezing, heart-warming, and exciting in Molveno Lake in the heart of the Italian Dolomites. Ice Swimming is not for the faint-hearted. We are not doing it because it is easy. We do it because it is hard and benefits our body and mind. Ice Swimming is a team experience. One minute, we compete against one another; the next minute, we are helping each other. We do it for the safety and the love of the ICE.“

Live coverage of the IISA 6th World Championship will be shown here, hosted by multi-lingual Olympic swim coach Chris Morgan (@swim4chris), and organized by Ice Swimming Hall of Fame Honor Swimmer Paolo Chiarino (@paolochiarino).

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