Come on in … the water’s freezing!
Print Edition
AS temperatures fall, gloves and scarves become essential elements for going outdoors. Shanghai’s residents are thankful for the invention of the air-conditioner which not only keeps them cool in summer but warm throughout the freezing winter.
But not everyone hates the cold. In particular the hardy group who took part in the Shanghai Winter Swimming Competition held last month in Jiading. Some 300 swimming enthusiasts from throughout the city took part.
Typically, winter swimming takes place in outdoor locations or unheated pools. Although it was sunny on the day of the competition, the water temperature was only around 10 degrees Celsius. But freezing weather can’t stop these swimmers jumping into the pool and enjoying the fun.
The competition has been held in Jiading for a number of years and as a result, winter swimming teams are increasing in number.
Members of one team usually gather at Jiading Stadium’s swimming pool around 6am, doing warm-up exercises to wake the body up. Winter, for them, is not the season to stay at home and relax, but the best time to strengthen their body.
The water temperature is usually below 10 degrees Celsius, but these team members put on their swimsuits, jump into the freezing pool and swim for tens of meters.
Among them is 90-year-old Lu Fengkui who is admired by other teammates and regarded as a legend. Having practiced cold water swimming for more than 45 years, he is one of the oldest winter swimming lovers in the city. Because of the regular exercise, he looks much younger than his age and is in good spirits, full of energy.
Lu takes pride in talking about winter swimming. “Forty years ago, I was a land-lubber with a beer belly, which was not a healthy living status,” he said. “I was fortunate to know this winter sport and keep swimming for years and years. I recommend this sport to everyone around me. Winter swimming makes my life better.”
Most people, like Lu, find out about winter swimming through hearing it can ease mental or physical conditions, such as headaches, insomnia or overweight. Legend has it that after attending winter swimming, people become healthier and happier.
Song Guangjun, another team member, who once swam in Bohai Bay and Nenjiang River, is like a warrior in his teammates’ eyes. He is from Heilongjiang Province, the northernmost province in China, so the temperatures in Shanghai are warmer than he is used to. His swimming distance is a record for the team at about 250 meters every day.
Winter swimming is not the same as swimming indoors that short distances of hundreds of meters are enough to maintain a good condition. Longer distances may hurt one’s organs or lead to a cold.
Hao Li is the only woman in this winter swimming team and also a beginner. In order to take part in the sport in this winter, she has been taking cold showers since last summer to adapt to the cold weather in advance.
“People question the feasibility of swimming in such cold water. As a beginner, I do feel cold in water. However, after insisting on swimming through this winter, I have benefited from this sport,” she said.
As far as she is concerned, cold is not the only difficulty while swimming. Overcoming the fear of jumping into the water comes first. “Once you overcome the obstacle of cold water swimming, it can make your whole day enjoyable,” she said.
Swimming in cold water can make the body work twice as hard to keep warm and burned more calories in the process. Hao feels warmer and fitter, as she has burn more calories than those who don’t take part in the activity.
Although many people gain benefits from swimming in cold water, the experience of the sport varies from people to people, according to team members. They advise swimmers not to push for long distances. Jumping into the swimming pool is a victory in itself, they say.
They are already looking forward to next winter and are hoping that more residents will be encouraged to take part in the activity.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
