Lynne Cox, My Favorite Athlete

by Dana-Susan Crews

Imagine standing in 32-degree temperatures wearing nothing but a swimsuit for 25 minutes. Yikes! That kind of cold might sting. Now imagine being immersed in 32-degree waters and swimming a mile into Antarctica for 25 minutes in nothing but a swimsuit, cap and goggles.

For Swimming Hall of Famer Lynne Cox, she doesn't have to imagine it. She lived it. As the very first person ever to swim the Antarctic mile, she revolutionized the sport of long distance, open water swimming. Her book Swimming to Antarctica is one that is filled with impressive feats. It's hard to believe what all she has conquered.

Cox's swimming adventures began at the age of 9 when she was able to endure distances adults couldn't even endure. She broke the English Channel record two years in a row at ages 15 and 16. In 1987, during the Cold War, with permission from Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, she became the first person to swim the Bering Strait. Her swim began in Alaska and continued for more than two hours through almost freezing waters into the Soviet Union.

According to Gorbachev, "It took one brave American just two hours to swim from one of our countries to another. We saw on television how sincere and friendly the meeting was between our people and the Americans when she stepped onto the Soviet shore. She proved by her courage how close to each other our peoples live."

Cox has been studied by medical professionals for years and finished her cold water swims with a team of medical experts monitoring for hypothermia. Most people would not survive 25 minutes in 32-degree waters. In fact, in one study, she and others were asked to immerse their hands in 32-degree water for more than 20 minutes. While the others were shouting and banging their dry fist on the table, Cox focused on a large clock in the room and engaged in positive self talk. She never lost focus and when asked if it hurt, she said it hurt a lot, but her will was stronger than her pain.

With 34% body fat equally distributed through her body and extra thick skin she calls "blubber", it is believed that she has the perfect body for these cold water swims. Cox's story is fascinating and one you might find incredibly inspirational. To purchase her book, click HERE.