Nominations

The objective of the Ice Swimming Hall of Fame is to recognize and honor leading ice and winter swimmers and contributors to the sport. The sport is growing quickly with thousands of participants and many mass and solo events in more and more countries. The Ice Swimming Hall of Fame serves as a historic record and provide inspiration and role models for future generations.

Eligibility into the Ice Swimming Hall of Fame requests that all swimmers and contributors should have an international “body of work” over a period of more than 5 years (this may increase in time).   A few exceptions may occur for a single/amazing one-time swim which captures global attention.

For swimmers it is their record of cold water swims including:  podium finishes in cold water races from 25m to 1km; ice miles, adventure swims, inspirational, special locations, first ever swims, altitude and under the ice.  All must generally be in traditional open water attire (togs not wetsuits).

For contributors this includes administrators, organizing bodies, officials, members of governing bodies, media, coaches, environmental awareness and events.  The individuals involved in Honour Events are described as “Participants in an Honour Event of the Ice Swimming Hall of Fame.”

For one-time events, nominations must be made within 2 years of the event. Only individual honourees (honour swimmers and organizers) will receive a vote for future hall of fame classes. Groups and events will not receive a vote. The Hall of Fame reserves the right to select an appropriate number of honourees each year based on quality of submitted nominations, including zero honourees if warranted. (for example no class of 2021 was selected due to a global pandemic.)

Nominations are typically in the form of a single sheet outlining accomplishments and contributions together with contact details. Individuals can be nominated for more than one category. A nomination (without being selected) is not intended to be made public, is not considered as an honour from the Ice Swimming Hall of Fame and lobbying for selection will discourage voters. Please email IceSwimmingHallOfFame@gmail.com for a nomination form and any questions on timeframes and deadlines.

Submissions will be reviewed for factual content as eligibility is dependent upon ratified swims and contributions which are recognized by the community and are not actively contested.

Reasons that may prevent nominees from being selected or result in the removal of an honoree from the Ice Swimming Hall of Fame:

Drug Test Failure (adverse analytical findings, atypical finding and other assorted anti-doping rule violations) by WADA or an authorized WADA body in any aquatics sport prevents a nominee from being selected and results in the removal of an honoree from the Ice Swimming Hall of Fame.   This does not apply if the finding is overturned on appeal (reduction or removal of any punishment on appeal is not considered if the finding is not overturned).  This can be a current test or a future test on an old sample.

Conviction of Sexual Assault or abuse will prevents a nominee from being selected and may result in the removal of an honoree from the Ice Swimming Hall of Fame.

Fraud in an organized fashion related to swimming may prevent a nominee from being selected and may in the removal of an honoree from the Ice Swimming Hall of Fame

Unfortunately, the three specifics above may not be exhaustive in the future.  The Ice Swimming Hall of Fame deplores any ethical violations that may diminish the reputation of the Ice Swimming Hall of Fame and the sport of cold water swimming.  Even a charge or suspicion of such an ethical violation may cause a nomination or announcement to be withdrawn.