This press release was originally published on our old website and has since been updated to include ice mile results from July 2025.
6th International Ice Swimming Association (IISA) World Ice Swimming Championships held in Molveno, Dolomites, Italy. 13th – 18th Jan 2025.
750 Competitors from 48 Countries; 3500 Swim starts in the 50m outdoor pool.
Mon 13th; Pre Event Medicals for all competitors including Blood Pressure & Heart Rate checks. Not unusual for some to fail & retry after settling down.
Tues 14th – Sat 18th. Events covering all swim disciplines including 200m Individual Medley. Freestyle events = 50m / 100m / 250m / 500m / 1000m.
Sat 18th Evening; Awards Ceremony in the neighbouring Alpine Village of Andalo. Based on Olympic style podium medal presentations complete with national anthems for all Gold Medal winners. Preceded by Para Swimmers also on the podium.
New Zealand Frozen Ferns were represented by a Team of 15 Swimmers ranging from 16yrs to 70yrs. We also included two ‘Kiwis’ (Anneke Veestra – Netherlands & Laeti Berten – Belgium) in our travelling/hosting Team.
In the Overall Events category ie Open regardless of age we achieved 4 Golds, 4 Silvers & 3 Bronze Medals = 11 all up, which was phenomenal for a small team. The likes of USA, Great Britain & Italy had teams of 50 or more each.
In the Age Group categories we won 21 Golds, 11 Silvers & 10 Bronze Medals.
We came 4th out of 48 Countries beating such countries as Great Britain, Italy (a Team of 70 odd) & Denmark. A stunning achievement.
The next IISA World Champs will be held in 2027 in Megeve – French Alps.
The NZ Frozen Ferns became the most recognised & respected Team by everyone including the Chief Event Director Paolo Chiarino who valued our contribution, thanking us for making our Medics available in the Recovery Rooms throughout the week.
Our Team Gear including our distinctive white tassled Beanie Hats were well known to all. In fact our Beanies became a highly prized ‘trading item’ with every other swimmer/team wanting them as souvenirs !!
Frozen Ferns Top Results
Emilia Finer
Gold Open Women’s 200m IM smashing her Open category world record that she set in Alexandra by 2 seconds
Gold Open 100m Butterfly
Silver Open Women’s 250 Freestyle and 500 Freestyle (Age World Record)
First in the age group for all her swims
Heidi Winter
Gold Open Women’s 100m Freestyle (Age WR)
Bronze Open Women’s 200m IM (Age WR)
Bronze Open Women’s 100 Backstroke
First in her age group for all these swims and 250 Freestyle and 50 Freestyle (AgeWR) and 100m Butterfly
Sophie Winter
Gold Open 100m Breaststroke
Silver Open Women’s 50m Breaststroke and 50m Butterfly
1st in age group 50m Butterfly
2nd in age group 100 Breaststroke *
3rd in age group 200m IM
Cameron Stanley
Bronze Open Men’s 100m Backstroke
First in age category for 50m and 100m Backstroke
Para Medallists
Meg Agnew
Bronze 100m Breaststroke and 50m Breaststroke
Francois Lambrechts
Gold 1000m Freestyle and 500 Freestyle
Silver 250m Freestyle
Bronze 100m Freestyle
Age Group Medallists
Quinn Boyle 18-24yrs
Sliver 1000m Free, 500m Free
Heidi Brynn 25-29 yrs
Gold 100m Free and 50m Free
Silver 100m Back
Bronze 250m Free 50m Fly
Madeline Hobo 18-24yrs
Gold 500m Free and 100m Breast
Bronze 250m Free
Kevin Hopkins 70-74yrs
Bronze 100m, 250m and 500m Free
Charlotte Brynn 55-59yrs
Gold 1000m Free (Age WR)
Silver 250m and 500m Free
Stephen Moore 60-64yrs
Bronze 1000m Free
Bethany Rogers 35-39yrs
Silver 100m Back
Bronze 1000m Free and 200m IM
Anneke Veenstra 45-49yrs (Honorary Frozen Fern, Netherlands)
Gold 500m Free
Silver 250m Free
Bronze 1000m Free
52 +27 +24 +35 =138 New Zealand Members
Ice Mile Country Statistics
In July 2025, the Aotearoa New Zealand Ice Swimming Championships was held in Saint Bathans, Central Otago. A record number of swimmers completed their ice miles – well done!
| Country | Ice Miles | Ice Milers | Male | Female | |
| 43 Countries | 984 | 641 | 348 | 293 | |
| England | 246 | 173 | 77 | 96 | |
| Ireland | 121 | 69 | 41 | 28 | |
| United States | 91 | 63 | 28 | 35 | |
| New Zealand | 57 | 40 | 15 | 25 | |
| Czech Republic | 54 | 38 | 29 | 9 | |
| Germany | 47 | 21 | 11 | 10 | |
| South Africa | 47 | 22 | 20 | 2 | |
| Australia | 46 | 33 | 21 | 12 | |
| Poland | 44 | 30 | 23 | 7 | |
| Austria | 25 | 11 | 9 | 2 | |
| Wales | 25 | 10 | 4 | 6 | |
| France | 24 | 13 | 10 | 3 | |
| Scotland | 19 | 16 | 3 | 13 | |
| Canada | 18 | 12 | 4 | 8 | |
| Netherlands | 16 | 12 | 6 | 6 | |
| Denmark | 15 | 8 | 3 | 5 |