You can swim all year round!

You can swim all year round! For years, we have been supporting the development of swimming – whether in cold water, open waters, or the pool – by showcasing the successes of both experienced swimmers and young enthusiasts of this amazing activity. Read about what swimming means to Teresa, Mateusz, and Michał, who enjoy it regardless of the season!

What Role Do Swimming and Physical Activity Play in Your Life

How does movement benefit your personal and professional life?

I’m an energetic person who likes to act quickly. Sport is very important in my life. The harder the training, the more energy I have for the next day. Managing a household, children, and work can sometimes be exhausting, but I run to training with excitement. It’s something just for me.

A huge source of motivation for me is Zahartowani – the people who make up our team. Each of us has our own life and responsibilities, yet we still find time to meet and swim, whether in the pool or in cold water.

Some days are tough, and we just step into the water, while on others, we swim more than before, pushing each other forward. I can confidently say that we are a tight-knit group – no one is left behind. We cheer each other on and provide support at every competition because that’s what Zahartowani is all about!

How Does Swimming Compare to Kyokushin Karate? What Are the Differences and Similarities?

Hmm… Swimming and Kyokushin differ in that after an intense swim training, when you’re completely exhausted, you can simply relax by swimming your favorite stroke. But in karate, training truly begins when you have no strength left – yet you still keep fighting.

There is one key similarity – after both types of training, I feel incredibly happy that I made it to the end.

Recently, I’ve taken a break from karate training, but instead, I’ve been going to strength training sessions, which I also enjoy very much.

A Shared Passion for Physical Activity – The Key to a Strong Relationship?

Does a shared passion in a relationship bring people closer, strengthen their bond, or perhaps create rivalry?

Grześ and I do a lot together. In my opinion, he has an incredible passion for many things, and he passes that passion on to me. I’m really grateful for that because, thanks to him, my life is more colorful and full of challenges. No one believes in me as much as he does.

Lately, we’ve been dedicating most of our time to work, but every free moment we have, we spend swimming and adapting to the cold.

It’s not about competition between us – rather, we support each other and work towards our own dreams in our respective areas of interest.

On swimming trips, we help each other and organize our time in a way that allows us to spend it with our kids as well as our Zahartowani family. We’re getting to know each other better every day, and we’ve learned when to offer a hug and when to just give each other space. 

Is Winter Swimming a Test of Your Limits, a Health Booster, or Something Else?

Getting into ice-cold water is, in a way, a health practice. Before I started my cold-water journey, I used to get sick more often. Now, I might still catch a virus occasionally, but my body fights it off much more easily.

Winter swimming is a challenge for me. Every time, I have an internal battle to push myself to swim. It’s all in my head, but I don’t give up easily. Of course, during competitions, there’s no time to overthink. When you stand at the starting line and hear the command to get ready… nothing else exists. You smile, but everything around you fades away.I can now compare it to a karate exam.

When the moment comes to showcase your skills, I get so focused that I feel as if I’m inside an invisible bubble – just me, alone with myself – even though there are people all around. It’s an incredible feeling.

Mateusz Pawlica – The Cold-Blooded Young Wolf!

How did you come up with the idea of winter swimming? It must hurt! What drew you to this sport?

The idea of winter swimming was suggested to me by my coach before the summer holidays. It had actually been on my mind for quite some time. I signed up for my first ice swimming competition in Januszkowice in 2022. It was quite a unique experience for me – very different from regular swimming competitions or open-water races. As far as I remember, I swam in two events there: 50 meters and 100 meters.

What attracted me the most was definitely the variety. Every competition brings different temperatures, different courses… You never know what to expect. Additionally, I was inspired by the people who swim in cold waters – they truly motivate me.

Is It an Expensive Sport?

That’s a rather relative question. The sport itself isn’t particularly expensive since all you really need is basic swimming gear. However, competitions are spread out all over Poland and even abroad, and that can be quite a significant expense.

I believe the best way to build a swimmer’s image is through social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok. Everyone wants to gain something from it, and the potential reach on these platforms creates opportunities to engage with sponsors who are also looking for ways to advertise.

In Your Social Media Photos, You’re Always Surrounded by Winter Swimmers. Is Community One of the Core Values of This Sport?

Absolutely! People in this sport are like one big family. Each of us has gained many friends along the way. Everyone supports and cheers for one another at every competition. This definitely impacts our engagement and motivation in the water.

How Does Winter Swimming Differ from the Swimming Taught in Clubs?

Aside from the obvious factor, such as water temperature, there aren’t too many technical differences. The key distinctions are in turns, glides, and starts – but beyond that, the techniques are almost identical. Of course, each organization has its own specific approach, but the differences aren’t major.

If You Had to Convince Someone to Try This Sport, What Would You Say?

Good question! The way this sport looks and what it entails definitely doesn’t make it easy to convince people to try it – it’s not exactly inviting at first glance. But I can assure you that once someone gets past the initial hesitation and takes the plunge, there’s a 90% chance it won’t be their last time!

Michał Tomaszewski – A Man of Both Hot and Cold Waters!

In warm water, you swim long distances, while in cold water, you stick to short ones. Which do you prefer?

Each type of swimming has its own charm and presents different challenges. Ice swimming requires immense mental strength. You have to make a decision: “Do I get in or not?” Of course, I say this humorously, but there have been moments when my mind created a barrier, telling me: “Not today.”

On the other hand, open-water and long-distance swimming is a completely different story. The key here is developing the right strategy to maintain energy throughout the entire distance. If you’re not afraid of the unknown or deep water, the whole world is open to you.

That’s exactly what I love most about open-water swimming – the ability to travel, swim in the most beautiful bodies of water around the world, and experience true freedom. That’s why I’d say I prefer long distances and open-water swimming.

What to Do When Swimming in a Pool Becomes Boring?

How Can Open Water and Winter Swimming Attract Young Swimmers from the Pool to Natural Waters?

First and foremost, it’s the sense of freedom, lack of restrictions, connection with nature, and the opportunity to experience different cultures. Swimming in open waters or icy conditions also means embracing unpredictability. During competitions, we often face waves, currents, and fluctuating temperatures – all of which make every training session and race unique. These are factors beyond our control.

For young people, it’s also a great opportunity to broaden their horizons and realize that sport is not just about racing but also about adventure. Unfortunately, that aspect sometimes gets lost in everyday competition.

A great example is the Oceanman events, which I absolutely love attending. At this year’s Oceanman World Championship Final, over 2,200 athletes from more than 90 countries participated. The atmosphere at these events is incredible – it blends competition with the shared passion of the swimmers. I’ve never experienced anything quite like it anywhere else. I highly recommend it to everyone. It’s also the perfect place to begin your open-water swimming journey!

What Do Young Swimmers Lack the Most to Achieve Their Goals and Take on Challenges? How Do You Think This Problem Can Be Solved?

They often lack patience and perseverance. Sport is full of ups and downs – I’ve had my fair share of them too. Young athletes, after going through a rough patch, often think “this isn’t worth it” and give up too quickly. But setbacks can last a month, sometimes even a year, and yet, consistent hard work always brings results.

It’s also important to consider alternatives. When I was in high school, I got tired of swimming “wall to wall” and competing at all costs. I started looking for new opportunities: open-water swimming, aquathlon, water rescue, fin swimming, and winter swimming. These experiences opened many doors for me, and I still benefit from them today. I encourage everyone to think about how they can make the most of their years of hard work in different ways.

We also can’t forget the role of coaches and parents. It’s up to them whether a young swimmer has access to these opportunities. We need passionate people who inspire, not just demand.

How Does Swimming Inspire Personal and Professional Growth?

What do you do outside of swimming? How do you see your future career? Will it be connected to sports?

Besides swimming, I am a student and a swimming coach. Recently, I launched a project called "Swim with a Champion", where I help people achieve their swimming goals by designing training plans, analyzing techniques, and organizing meetings with young athletes. I strive to show that small steps can lead to great achievements.

In just six months, the project has already seen remarkable success: personal bests improved by dozens of seconds, a Polish record in winter swimming, and medals at national and world championships.

In the future, I would love to run a company that gives people energy, fulfillment, and a moment of escape from everyday life. I won’t reveal too much yet because I don’t want it to remain just an idea without action. But I can say that it will involve sports, adrenaline, and inspiration.

What Is Your Biggest Swimming Dream?

I have already fulfilled many of my dreams – winning a world championship and setting a world record were among them. Now, new goals are taking shape, mainly in open-water swimming, particularly long-distance crossings. Maybe even the Oceans Seven challenge? We’ll see.

As I pursue new dreams, I also want to inspire and help others – for example, by participating in charity fundraisers and collaborating with organizations. Swimming is my passion and my way of life. I want to show others that they too can experience this – not just through swimming, but in whatever they choose to pursue in life.

Interview by: Maciej Mazerant / Editor-in-Chief, AQUA SPEED Magazine

*Photos from the private archives of Teresa, Mateusz, and Michał (+ Michał’s photo by Wiktoria Rożnowska, who is also featured in AQUA SPEED Magazine).