Yekaterina Nekrasova, who took up free diving 4 years in the past, then held her breath for a minute and a half as she coated the 85 meters (279 toes) of a frozen Lake Baikal on January 7 — the Russian Orthodox Christmas Day.
She is believed to have set a world report along with her try. A spokeswoman for Guinness World Information informed CNN they’ve obtained particulars of Nekrasova’s try however have but to confirm the landmark swim.
Footage filmed from above the floor reveals members of her help workforce following behind in moist fits, in case of emergency. In accordance with the Siberian Occasions, holes had been minimize within the 10-inch-thick ice at common intervals in case she wanted to abort the swim.
The problem was filmed from each above and beneath the floor. Nekrasova might be seen descending a ladder, then following a route marked by a cable for a minute and a half. On the finish she exits the water by climbing up one other ladder.
Met by her help workforce, Nekrasova emerges to say in English: “I am OK.”
Lake Baikal holds a number of international data itself. Someplace between 20 and 25 million years outdated, it’s the oldest present freshwater lake on Earth. Reaching down so far as 5,315 toes, it’s the deepest continental physique of water, in addition to being the world’s largest freshwater lake by quantity — it holds about one-fifth of the recent water on Earth’s floor, some 5,500 cubic miles.
Whereas she knew that she may “comfortably” swim 75 meters (246 toes), Nekrasova mentioned doubts started to creep in.
“I believed what if I’d freeze earlier than the beginning, or the masks would freeze or fog up, or I’d keep on with the ice on the end line. And naturally I did not know the way lengthy I may dive in a brand new place,” she wrote.
The air temperature was as little as -22 levels Fahrenheit however felt extra like -43.6 on January 6, she mentioned. Situations had been “harmful and darkish below the ice,” which satisfied the workforce to postpone the try.
Nekrasova described what occurred the next day as a “Christmas miracle.”
“The climate warmed as much as -21 (levels Celsius, -5.eight Fahrenheit ), the wind barely moderated,” she wrote. As her help workforce ready the location with security lanes and holes within the ice, she remained at her lodge.
Having warmed up, she made her solution to the place to begin, the place she was joined by her help workforce.
“For a minute I stood wearing entrance of the ladder, tuned in, respiration, the wind was robust. I placed on a masks, undressed and hurried into the water. There is no such thing as a wind, no frost, no concern within the water and it is rather comfy. I stood for about 30 seconds till the heartbeat calmed down. Then I dived.”
Describing the expertise as a “pleasure,” mentioned she “loved the method” and that finally she was “overwhelmed with feelings.”
Signing off, she added: “The highly effective power of this place helped me. Thanks Baikal! Till subsequent time!”
Ice swimming, or epiphany bathing, is a convention in Russia. For a lot of Orthodox Christians, it’s a part of a January ritual commemorating the baptism of Jesus.
Nekrasova, who trains 4 instances per week in a heat pool and dives twice in per week in ice holes in Moscow, informed CNN: “For me, under-ice diving is like an power enhance, as if I used to be reborn. It’s a sensation I am unable to examine to the rest, a really nice one. And I all the time lengthy for it.”
By comparability, Nekrasova is a free diver — which implies she held her breath at some stage in the swim at near 32 levels Fahrenheit, below a sheet of ice.
He mentioned: “The water there may be as recent as one can get — salinity of zero. That means you’re heavier within the water and you are feeling the chilly just a little greater than in salt water.
“It’s a magical place, Lake Baikal. The water visibility can also be superb, crystal clear water and you may see ceaselessly. That could be a good issue for security.”
Of Nekrasova’s achievement, he mentioned: “The water ought to have been near zero, which makes it extraordinarily onerous in your muscle groups. She swam with none help — gliding very effectively. It was superb to observe her.
“Eighty-five meters is a really lengthy distance in heat water with no ice sheet above your head. Though she had a line to indicate her course and distance, she wasn’t hooked up to something, with few ice holes on the best way. Typical hardcore Russian type.”
In accordance with Guinness World Information, the report for the longest swim below ice is held by Dane Stig Severinsen, who swam 250 toes in Greenland in 2013.