Among them are teachers, clerks, IT specialists, lawyers, entrepreneurs, manual laborers, and office workers who inspire both the residents of Ełk and those from nearby towns with their passion for winter swimming. Grzegorz Kumiszcza, a winter swimmer and organizer of the Masuria Winter Swimming Cup, shares the story of the "Hardened."
The Hardened! A great name, a fantastic logo, and amazing energy. What’s the secret to successfully organizing a group of people eager to spend time actively in cold water – and beyond?
Thanks! The name Hardened came to us naturally when we asked ourselves, “What are we like?” As for the logo, we, too, are in awe of the graphic designer. What they created based on our guidelines exceeded our expectations [smile].
The energy you’re talking about is true passion and the desire to share it with others. We focus on what we do without worrying too much about others, although we certainly draw inspiration from the achievements of various groups.
What are the professions of the members of the Hardened? How do you balance professional work with your club activities?
Among us are teachers, clerks, IT specialists, lawyers, entrepreneurs, manual laborers, and office workers. It’s true that our group’s activities are very demanding; we often work on our projects in the evenings and on weekends.
We have a ton of ideas, and there are plenty of events in Poland we want to participate in. On top of that, we organize our own events. Let’s not forget that besides our group and our jobs, we also have young families. We manage to balance everything thanks to our immense passion, a sense of mission in what we do, and the support of our loved ones, who take care of our kids during weekends when we’re away [smile].
Mazury is an ideal place for open water swimming, but winter swimming competitions seem to be a new thing here – how do the locals perceive this sport?
Yes, there are many swimming events on the lakes in Mazury, but as far as I know, we’re the only ones organizing winter swimming at the moment. We are thrilled with the positive reception of our activities among the local community, where there’s significant interest in what we do, and we’re met with great kindness and support.
Personally, I’m delighted that we are inspiring both the residents of Ełk and people from nearby towns with our passion for Winter Swimming. This season, dozens of people have joined us on this beautiful journey, including the Mayor of Ełk, Tomasz Andrukiewicz—a man known for his immense passion for sports. It’s largely thanks to his support that we can organize our competitions in collaboration with the city.
With the primary goal of promoting the culture of Winter Swimming in our region, I created the Masuria Winter Swimming Cup. Thanks to the incredible team of Hardened members around me, I’m able to further develop this project. We want the competitions in this series, through short distances, to encourage swimmers and winter bathers to take that first plunge and swim their initial meters in cold water. At the same time, they get the chance to compete alongside some of Poland’s top swimmers. It’s accompanied by a fantastic atmosphere, giving beginners the feeling that they’ve accomplished something extraordinary. Often, for the first swim, a few people come just to cheer on one participant, but by the next event, they’re signing up as a whole group. Some of them will soon start raising the bar by competing over longer distances, while others will always stick to 25 or 50 meters, simply to support the group socially and take part in the competition. And that’s the beauty of it.
What skills and knowledge are necessary to consider organizing winter swimming competitions—events involving dozens or even hundreds of participants?
In my case, it all started with passion and the desire to achieve the highest possible level in event organization.
First and foremost, you need to participate in several such competitions yourself, listen to advice from the best organizers, and take feedback from the participants. I was fortunate to meet—and continue to meet—many supportive individuals along the way. The first was Leszek Naziemiec, who, despite never having met me before, shared his insights about creating events with such ease that it seemed almost childishly simple, giving me great confidence in my plan’s success.
Then I met Piotr Biankowski, who, with years of top-level competition experience and extensive know-how in organizing excellent events, has always been willing to share his knowledge and support.
Currently, we are also part of the ICE CUP Poland organizers' group, where we share experiences and listen to each other's perspectives. Through this collaborative approach, we aim to create events with a broad and inclusive outlook.
What swimming gear do you need to start your journey with cold water and winter swimming competitions?
When swimming in open waters, in addition to the attire you’d use in a pool (swimsuit/trunks, goggles, swim cap), it’s a good idea to have a safety buoy. I also use earplugs.
How do you train to prepare for competitions? What kind of training do you do in the pool, on land, and in cold water?
In winter, 90% of our training takes place in the pool under the guidance of an experienced coach. Warm water is where we work on technique and endurance, while in cold water, we simply utilize the skills and conditioning we’ve already developed. For most swimmers, maintaining cold-water adaptation requires only one session per week in cold water.
We are still a beginner group when it comes to Winter Swimming. For many of us, this is our first season of Winter Swimming. Some of us are just starting our swimming journey, while others compete in marathons in warm water. As a result, everyone has different training frequencies and intensities.
Can swimming be a way to help others? Why, and which nonprofit organizations do you support through your activities?
I believe that you can always help, no matter where or how—and swimming is no exception! If an opportunity arises, it should be seized. People are inherently good and want to help, and we aim to provide them with the chance to do so. As Hardened, we volunteer for the Ronald McDonald Foundation, which actively fights for children's health and ensures comfort and safety for families whose children are hospitalized, often hundreds of kilometers from home.
We are also volunteers for the DKMS Foundation, and during all our events, we organize bone marrow donor registration days. This gives people the opportunity to register in the database of potential donors, offering someone a chance to overcome blood cancers. In the summer, as part of the Swimming Patrol initiative, we organize free sessions in Ełk and the surrounding areas, providing swimming lessons and teaching water safety.
Additionally, once a year, we organize a charity Santa Swim to support a child from the local community of Ełk in need of medical assistance. There’s more, but perhaps that’s a topic for a separate article.
Interviewed by: Maciej Mazerant / Editor-in-Chief, AQUA SPEED Magazine
Photo courtesy of: Hardened