In today's episode, I have a natter with my wonderful friend Kate Steels who is currently six swims into her Ice Sevens Challenge. Ice Sevens is the pinnacle of ice swimming: it consists of swimming one ice mile on every continent, of which one must be swum at zero degrees, and has only ever been completed by two people. Kate is on track to become Britain's first. 

Covid restricted Kate's swimming plans to reach South America in 2020 but it is very much on the cards for 2021 when the world opens back up again. Kate has secured sponsorship from Axa Insurance to complete her final swim. Read more about Kate's challenge here: https://selkieswim.com/blogs/news/kate-steels

Kate has an unbelievable swimming CV (https://www.iceswimminghalloffame.com/steels-kate)  but also gives a lot back to ice swimming through her work as the Chair of the IISA GB Board, and is secretary to the IISA Global Board, as well as competing herself. Kate was inducted into the Ice Swimming Hall of Fame in 2020. 

We have a chat about Kate's journey into outdoor swimming, stepping up to swimming the channel, first steps into ice swimming, building up to an ice mile, ice zero (an ice mile at under 1 degrees), ice swimming safely, rewarming, and three pieces of kit Kate recommends you own. 

Kate believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. We need people like Kate around us, otherwise we would miss out on so much. Thank you Kate for what you have done for me and for all of us on Team GB Ice Swimming. Your unwavering support of us when you had so much to deal with yourself is phenomenal. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.