Bárbara Hernández – a highly accomplished long-distance swimmer from Chile, holder of world records and Guinness World Records. Long distances and low water temperatures are the conditions where the "Ice Mermaid" feels most at home.
Barbara gave us an interview just before her arrival in Poland for the Gdynia Winter Swimming Cup. With this exclusive interview, we are announcing the next issue of AQUA SPEED magazine, which will be published in just a few days!
The Ice Mermaid from Chile
It seems they call you the "Ice Mermaid" because water feels like your second natural environment… How did your swimming journey begin?
I think water is actually my first natural environment [laughs]. Nowhere else do I feel as comfortable and free as I do in the water. I live in the capital of Chile—one of the few regions in my country without a coastline—so being in water, whether in a pool or the sea, has always felt like a privilege. I started swimming at the age of 6.
Is it easy to be a swimmer in Chile?
Currently, there are more swimming pools in the country, and access to them is somewhat more equitable and open in certain areas. However, swimming as a sport remains invisible and unsupported by government sports policies, despite the thousands of kilometers of coastline we have. Making a living as a swimmer is very complicated.
AQUA SPEED Partners with GDYNIA WINTER SWIMMING CUP
On January 27-28, 2024, the Gdynia Marina will host the 5th anniversary edition of the Gdynia Winter Swimming Cup BCT SERIES. This event will hold the prestigious title of the IWSA (International Winter Swimming Association) Winter Swimming World Cup and the International Polish Championships. This marks the first time in the history of winter swimming that a World Cup event of such high rank will take place in Poland.
The competition will be held in a 25-meter pool, specially constructed for the Championships in the Gdynia Yacht Port. The events will run from 9 AM to 3 PM, with a special grandstand for spectators. The program includes races at distances from 25 meters to 1 kilometer (competing for the title of BALTIC COLD BEAST), a 4x25m relay, fun swimming in costumes, and a special event for children, the Morświnki race. The swimming styles in the competition will include freestyle, breaststroke, and butterfly.
As of today, in addition to Polish competitors, swimmers from Germany, England, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Finland, Spain, Estonia, Morocco, and Chile have confirmed their participation.
Among the participants will be the current Guinness World Record holder, Bárbara Hernández, known as the Ice Mermaid from Chile. She is the first person in the world to swim 1.5 miles (2.41 km) in the icy waters of the Antarctic Ocean.
A Good Team as the Foundation of Extreme Swimming
In interviews, you often emphasize the importance of your team in your achievements. Is extreme swimming a sport for individualists?
For me, it’s always a team effort. The team I trust and entrust my life to plays a crucial role. Together, we set a goal, the achievement of which can sometimes take decades.
Was there ever a moment in your swimming journey when you said to yourself, “That’s it... I’m not going back in the water”?
We’ve had tough, complicated, and painful swims, but I’ve never thought about not returning to the water. A clear goal helps overcome doubts and challenges, and water is my home. I belong to my glaciers and fjords in Patagonia. I also strive never to lose the ability to marvel and play in the water.
You graduated in psychology. Do you work in this field? How does your knowledge and experience in psychology help you in swimming?
I used to work as a psychologist, and now, as a speaker, I collaborate with women, foundations, companies, and schools. Being a psychologist, as well as attending therapy, has significantly influenced my ability to experience every emotion, work through fear and expectations, connect with both the best and worst versions of myself, and learn how to push boundaries, create opportunities, and dream big.
Swimming Challenges as Motivation
I’ve noticed a dangerous trend in sports, even amateur ones, where people use their bodies as tools for breaking records and building fame. What’s your view on this?
I believe that the motivation to make the impossible possible is inherent to human nature, and only by approaching our limits do we realize what we are capable of—both physically and emotionally. Today, the responsibility for our own lives and for others, along with professionalism and dedication to those who help build our dreams, are aspects that deserve special emphasis. What is our legacy? Is it a medal or a Guinness World Record? For me and my team, these are tools we use to inspire others to pursue their dreams and live a life each person chooses for themselves.
Is swimming more of a sport to you, or a physical activity for the body and soul?
I see swimming as a form of moving meditation. Nowhere else, during no other activity, can I hear my heart and thoughts as clearly as I do in the water.
