Yorkshire Outdoor Swimmers shine at The Really Cold Championships 2026
January 13, 2026 11:56 amWhen the ice had to be cleared and the water temperature read a bracing 2°C, Yorkshire Outdoor Swimmers (YOS) didn’t hesitate. At The Really Cold Championships 2026, our swimmers stepped up to one of the toughest open-water challenges on the calendar and delivered performances that showcased resilience, preparation, and true Yorkshire grit.
The swimmers who took on the cold
After months of committed training at Harthill, the following YOS swimmers proudly represented the club in their individual ice-swimming events, delivering strong performances across multiple distances:
🏊♀️ Millie Bell
200m Freestyle – 🥇 Woman’s 1st place overall (2:52.93)
100m Freestyle – 🥇 Woman’s 1st place overall (1:13.63)
🏊♂️ Luke Copestake
500m Freestyle – 🥈 Men’s 2nd place overall (7:34.09)
200m Freestyle – 🥉 Men’s 3rd place overall (2:42.62)
100m Freestyle – 🥉 Men’s 3rd place overall (1:11.78)
50m Freestyle – 🥉 Men’s 3rd place overall (32.06)
🏊♂️ Adam Cook
1000m Freestyle – Men’s 5th place overall (17:56.44)
500m Freestyle – Mens 4th place overall (8:55.15)
🏊♂️ Adam Taylor
100m Freestyle – Men’s 12th place overall (1:58.25)
50m Butterfly – Men’s 9th place overall (1:05.60)
Each athlete faced extreme conditions that demand far more than physical fitness. Ice swimming is as much a mental challenge as it is physical controlling breathing, maintaining technique, and making smart decisions when the cold bites hard. While the results above highlight their individual swims, many YOS members also took part in relay events, showcasing teamwork, coordination, and shared resilience in the icy water. Our swimmers showed discipline, courage, and composure throughout all their races, earning well-deserved results and finishing positions.
More importantly, they embodied what YOS is all about: supporting one another, celebrating every finish, and representing the club with pride.
Thank you to our volunteers
Events like this simply don’t happen without dedicated volunteers. We want to give special thanks to the Yorkshire Outdoor Swimmers committee members and volunteers who played a vital role in supporting the event and the club:
- JD
- Sarah
- Kevin
- Kula
Their time, energy, and behind-the-scenes work help keep YOS running organising sessions, supporting swimmers, and ensuring safety and inclusivity remain at the heart of everything we do. The Championships were a reminder that YOS is powered by people who care deeply about the community.
Proud to be YOS
Competing in 2°C water after ice clearance is not something many would volunteer for but for Yorkshire Outdoor Swimmers, it’s another opportunity to challenge limits together. We are incredibly proud of everyone who swam, volunteered, supported, and cheered.
Throughout the Championships, YOS pride was visible poolside and beyond, with swimmers and supporters wearing Yorkshire Outdoor Swimmers merchandise as they cheered, supported, and represented the club together.
Powered by club support
Behind every icy dip was the strength of the YOS community. Training sessions at Harthill are never just about time in the water they’re about shared knowledge, safety-first practices, and encouragement when conditions get tough.
From cold-water acclimatisation and technique tips, to moral support on race day, YOS was there every step of the way. Swimmers travelled knowing they were backed by a club that believes in preparation, inclusivity, and looking after each other before, during, and after the swim.
That sense of togetherness was on full display at the Championships, where cheers, hugs, hot drinks, and post-swim check-ins mattered just as much as race results.
National recognition
The scale and spectacle of The Really Cold Championships 2026 didn’t go unnoticed, with the event gaining national attention and coverage on BBC News. It was fantastic to see ice swimming and the dedication of cold-water swimmers recognised on such a platform.
Congratulations to all our swimmers for their achievements, and thank you to everyone who makes Yorkshire Outdoor Swimmers such a special club. Here’s to the next cold-water challenge whatever the temperature may be.