Spanish swimmer Ángela Martínez achieved the world runner-up title at the Open Water World Cup, held in Santa Eulària des Riu, Ibiza. The day was marked by intense cold and strong waves that tested the participants. The water temperature, recorded at 18.6 degrees, was a key factor in the competition.
The thermal limit that defines technology in swimming 🌡️
The discipline's regulations establish a critical threshold: if the water drops below 18 degrees, swimmers must wear wetsuits. At 18.6 degrees, the participants competed in swimsuits, without the buoyancy or thermal insulation of the suit. This technical detail makes a difference in performance, as the wetsuit reduces heat loss and improves hydrodynamics. The exact temperature measurement, carried out by the organization, is a precise process that defines the conditions of each event.
The drama of 0.6 degrees: swimsuit or astronaut suit 🥶
That the water was at 18.6 degrees was a relief for the swimmers, but also a cruel joke for human thermoregulation. Imagine being in the sea, with waves tossing you around, and your only protection being a strip of lycra. By 0.6 degrees, the swimmers avoided looking like seals in wetsuits, although their teeth chattered in unison. The cold does not forgive, but the regulations do even less.