Ireland’s Ciara Doran received silver inside the 1000m on the Ice Swimming World Championship, held in Murmansk, Russia, on closing weekend. Irish swimmers also won one silver and bronze medal of their age categories in the World Championship. From Galway, 18-12 months-old Doran finished under four seconds at the back of winner Alisa Fatum from Germany. Hanna Bakuniak from Poland won the bronze medal. Ninety-three swimmers from 22 nations participated in the third-ever International Ice Swimming Association World Championship, held in a brief 25m swimming pool carved out of Murmansk’s frozen Lake Semenovskoe.
The occasion, between March 14 and 17, also saw Murmansk host the first-ever Arctic Cup in which Ireland claimed eight medals. 12 Irish swimmers traveled to Russia, 8 taking elements in the World Championships and ten within the Arctic Cup. Between the two competitions, four hundred swimmers from 33 nations competed in freezing water temperatures of 0℃ in Murmansk, the largest city north of the Arctic Circle. The Arctic Cup featured six-character activities of shorter distances for each woman and man.
Ciara Doran also gained typical gold within the Arctic Cup 200m Freestyle. “It was always my dream to symbolize Ireland on the sector level,” said Doran. “To stand on the podium with the tricolor and being supplied with the gold medal became a dream come true. After receiving the gold medal, I hugged my dad, and we each cried. I felt like all my tough work turned out to be worth it. “I train twice daily in a pool, Monday to Saturday, plus gymnasium sessions. Last year changed into tough.
Between injuries and exams, it becomes bodily and mental worrying. “I’ve been lucky to have true coaches alongside the manner that stimulated me and a circle of relatives to help me.” Ireland’s Patricia Heffernan, who won gold in her age class for the Arctic Cup 500m Freestyle, acquired a special award for being the first deaf swimmer to finish an ice swim at 0℃. 1000m Freestyle – 2nd vicinity standard and silver medal winner in her age class Arctic Cup 200m Freestyle – 1st vicinity typical and gold medal winner in her age category 50m Freestyle – 3rd location standard and bronze medal winner in her age class 50M Butterfly – 5th region normal Julie-Ann Somers (Dublin).
World Championship 1000m Freestyle – silver medal winner in her age class Arctic Cup 500m Freestyle – gold medal winner in her age class Deirdre King (Kildare) World Championship 1000m Freestyle – bronze medal winner in age category Arctic Cup 100m Breaststroke – silver medal winner in age class 50m Breaststroke- silver medal winner in age category John Ryan (Limerick) World Championship 1000m Freestyle – bronze medal winner in his age category Arctic Cup 500m Freestyle – silver medal winner in his age category Tiffiny Quinn (Dublin) Arctic Cup 500m Freestyle – silver medal winner in her age category Patricia Heffernan (Dublin) Arctic Cup 500m Freestyle – gold medal winner in her age category Olive Conroy (Armagh).
Arctic Cup 200m freestyle – eighth in her age category 50m Breaststroke – 4th in her age category Mollie Conroy (Armagh) Arctic Cup 50m Breaststroke – 7th in her age category Paddy Bond (Donegal) World Championship 1000m Freestyle – 15th in his age category Arctic Cup 100m Breaststroke – 4th in his age class 50m Freestyle – eleventh in his age category 50m Fly – fifth in his age category Colin Lindsay (Armagh) World Championship 1000m Freestyle – fifth in his age category Patrick Corcoran (Dublin) World Championship 1000m Freestyle – 13th in his age category Mark Dempsey (Limerick) World Championship 1000m Freestyle – 14th in his age category Featured photo credit: Ian Conroy.
