ICE Hall of Fame - Honoree

·       2008 to Present: Experienced Cold Water Swimmer, Organiser, and Administrator

·       2012 London Olympics Technical Director – Open Water Swimming

·       FINA Open Water Consultant (2013 – 2019)

·       2013: First UK Male to Swim an Ice Mile (one of the fastest in history at that time)

·       2014 – 2019 - Founder/Organizer of Big Chill Swim, one of the first events to establish winter swimming in the UK

·       International Winter Swimming Association – International Board Member

·       2008 to Present: Medalist in several IWSA 450m, 500m and 1km races (including 1st place in Latvia), taken part in many International Winter and Ice Swimming World Cup and World Championship events

Events

·       Big Chill Swim 2014 – 2019 This was the event that helped establish winter swimming in the UK. The first winter swim event outside of the lidos, this event held both IWSA and IISA events. It also hosted Ram Barkai, Jackie Cobell and Lewis Pugh as guest speakers to spread the word about cold water swimming, which introduced 100’s of winter swimmers into the sport. 

·       Ullswater Swim Place: Introduction to Winter Swimming Sessions. Since 2019 Introducing swimmers to cold water in a safe and controlled way.  Daily sessions throughout the winter allows people who have never swum in cold water to be taken into Ullswater with Colin. These sessions are very popular with morning swims and stargazing swims throughout the winter months in the English Lake District

·       2011 – present: Worldwide promotion of International Ice Swimming Events, International Winter Swimming and how to Swim in Cold Water Youtube videos over 50 videos starting in 2011 with over 150,000 views. 

Other Considerations

·       Idris Elba's Fight Club 2022: Open Water Swimming Challenge for BBC TV with Idris Elba. Developing challenge, coaching and interviews.

·       Sports Relief 2020: Jo Whiley's Celebrity Sport Relief Dare2Tri - Colin was the open water swim coach and cold water swim adviser for open water swim sections of the 3 triathlons in 3 days.

·       Extreme sports Red Bull: Colin took part in Alpine high altitude cold water swimming physiology testing for a TV program on extreme sports.

·        River Cottage: Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall follows Colin as he trains for a 10k event, closely watching his diet.

·       BBC Blue Peter Sports Relief: Presenter Radzi was trained by Colin from novice swimmer to open water swimmer for a televised 1-mile swim in 5 degrees for Sports Relief Winter Swim Challenge.

·       SAS: Are you Tough Enough: Colin was a participant in the first ever BBC SAS reality TV show and made it through to the final 4.

·       Host of the International Adventure Film Festival ‘Kendal Mountain Festival’s Outdoor Swimming Session’. 

·       Inductee of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame

·       Open Water Administrator Accomplishments:

o  2008 – 2011 Founder of Great North Swim – over 10,000 plus entries each year

o  2011 – 2012 Technical Operations Manager for London 2012 Olympic Marathon Swim event

o  2012 – 2018 Director of Chillswim Events – Winter Swims & Length of Lake Swims

o  2013 – 2019 FINA Open Water Swimming Consultant

o  2018 Technical operations manager for European Open Water Swim Championships (Loch Lomond)

o  2014 – present Swim Serpentine (Swim Director for London Marathon Events) 6000 + swimmers

o  2019 – present: Ullswater Swim Place Director

o  English Channel Solo Swimmer 10 hrs 30 mins

o  British Age Group Triathlon Champion

Colin Hill Links

• IISA Bio