Swimmer from Chile swam 2.5 km in the waters of Antarctica (9 photos + 2 videos)
Chilean athlete Barbara Hernandez is called the "icy mermaid". She recently set a record by swimming a 45-minute distance in cold waters near Antarctica - and became the first person in the world, who took this step. 
On February 5, Chilean swimmer Barbara Hernandez became the world swimmer record holder. A 37-year-old woman swam a 45-minute distance in 2.5 kilometers in the cold waters of Antarctica, where the water temperature was about 2 degrees Celsius. The athlete took a swim in a swimsuit, swimming goggles, cap and earplugs.
"My biggest rival is my fear, not other people. Fear of failure, fear of embarrassing myself in front of the people who believed in me. These are my main opponents," says Barbara. 
Barbara's swim started near Greenwich Island in Antarctica. Approximately 20 minutes after the start of the swim, the swimmer began to feel the first signs of hypothermia - she "felt that her hands were becoming harder and harder", and "the heart was enveloped in cold." But in spite of everything, the woman stubbornly walked forward, and successfully reached the end point - a buoy in the middle of the ocean. After that, she was taken by boat straight to the clinic, where doctors assessed and restored her condition. Barbara's body temperature at that time was only 27°C. 
The swimmer managed to recover in a short time, and already two hours after the swim, she felt good and was in excellent condition. International Winter Swimming Association recognized Barbara's swim as a record. She became the first person in the world overcoming such a distance in the icy waters of Antarctica. But she hopes that soon the record will also be entered into the Guinness Book of Records. 
Among other things, with her swim, Barbara wants to attract more people's attention to climate change and ocean issues. She hopes that her record will raise awareness of the effects of climate change for Antarctica. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), Antarctic sea ice levels are now at their lowest ever observation history.
"It scares me that the ice of Antarctica continues to melt. I I thought about it while swimming. My legs hurt, but I felt strong. I knew that I was doing this not only for myself, but also to publicize important issues. I hope my swim will give it a boost, "- says Barbara. 
Barbara swim video:
