Who needs a wetsuit?

From Agence France Press:


Wearing only Speedos, UK endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh has completed two record-breaking swims in the icy waters of Antarctica, a statement from his expedition says.

Pugh, who broke the record for long-distance swimming in the Arctic in August, took 18 minutes and 10 seconds to complete a one-kilometre swim off Petermann Island on December 14.

It was the southernmost swim ever undertaken at 65 degrees 10 south. That record was held by American swimmer Lynn Cox, who swam at 64 degrees south in 2003.

Pugh took the plunge two days later near Deception Island to swim 1.65 kilometres in 30 minutes and 30 seconds, according to the statement.

It marked the first time that a swimmer had been in such cold water (2-3 degrees Celsius) for so long.

"As soon as I dived in, I had a screaming pain all over my body," Pugh said in a statement released from his MV Polar Star ice breaker from Drake Passage.

"After three minutes, I'd lost all feeling in my hands and feet. And after six minutes I lost all feeling throughout my arms and legs," he said.

"I am not sure how I kept on going for so long. I had to concentrate all the time and swim as fast as I could to keep the cold out."

University of Cape Town Professor Tim Noakes, who headed a team of sports scientists accompanying Pugh, said the swimmer was able to survive the icy waters due to a combination of factors.

"When he enters the water, his core body temperature is extremely high (38.4 degrees Celsius) and he is able to maintain this temperature for up to 15 minutes in ice cold water.

"But most importantly, he has an iron will.