大象传媒

4 August 2021

People attempt to get to their happy place in a variety of ways. For some it’s yoga, others might meditate. Not many however would find their ‘reset’ by jumping into an ice filled paddling pool of freezing cold water – but that’s exactly what Cath Pendleton does.

The inspiring single mum discovered ice swimming at a particularly low point in her life. Not only did it help her overcome the challenges she faced, it gave her the drive to make, and meet, goal after goal until she achieved something no one else in the world had ever done.

“It has been tough over the years being a single mum and trying to make ends meet,” says the record-breaker.

“Sometimes I wish it could have been easier but what’s the saying ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’? My life is crazy but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Growing up, Cath was always outdoors and when she finished school, she was drawn to a career in the Air Force. Serving three and a half years in the RAF, Cath and her family then moved to Germany and it was here that she gave birth to her second daughter Bethan.

“Germany was a difficult time for me because we were only there for 18 months and Beth was poorly when she was born,” Cath continued. “They didn’t really know what was wrong. She was so poorly. They also thought she was deaf at the time. Her dad (and I), we were drifting apart at that point and then we split up.

“I tried to make it there on my own with the girls but it became really tough because Bethan was unwell. Then I moved back to the UK,” she said.

Returning to the UK, Cath was physically and mentally exhausted so decided to take some time off.

“I needed to get my mojo back then one day, I saw something that would change my life forever. I saw an advert for a winter swimming gala in Lake Windemere so I said to a couple of friends ‘do you fancy trying it?’

Cath got the bug for extreme wild swimming in cold, cold water and was soon dragging her friends along for regular sessions.

“The three of us started going and I went on Google Maps and started finding all the lakes in the area. We would go two mornings a week, in the dark with head torches and trout slapping you in the face!

“I discovered quite early on that going into the cold water just made me feel really good, I refer to it as my reset button.

“But it wasn’t just the swimming I loved, the colder the water, the better. I got completely hooked and was swimming four to five times a week.

“When you get in the really cold temperatures, it’s like someone’s got a vice on your hands and I know it sounds crazy and really painful but after you get over that initial cold, it’s the buzz you get after; you start getting really addicted to the buzz. I was loving it and I just wanted to push myself even harder and then I had an idea,” she explained.

Cath had her sights set on swimming the Channel and within just one year she had accomplished that goal but she was far from done.

She was selected to represent Great Britain in the World Ice Swimming Championships held in Russia and came third in her age group. Having represented her country in the sport she loves, Cath then looked even further afield for her next quest.

“I’d been told about this incredible challenge for ice swimmers,” she said. “To swim one mile in each of the seven continents. Only two people had ever done it and there was a good reason why; the hardest mile was in the coldest place on the planet – Antarctica.”

With extreme ice and a wind chill that could drop to -21°c, not to mention leopard seals and pods of orcas inhabiting the waters, Antarctica would be Cath’s greatest test yet.

But after securing sponsorship to fund her trip, as well as completing a rigorous training schedule that included sitting in paddling pools and chest freezers full of ice, Cath was all set.

She travelled to Ushuaia in Argentina – nicknamed the End of the World – where she boarded a boat to travel further south to complete the 1km Antarctica challenge.

“After six days at sea, we had arrived but we were much further south than planned and had entered the Antarctic Polar Circle. This changed everything,” she explained. “If the swim went ahead, we’d be the first in the world to swim a mile this far south.”

On the morning of the swim, the team leader was taken ill, which meant that Cath would be first into the icy waters and the one to make history. Without looking back, Cath took the plunge and did just that.

“I couldn’t believe it! I’d done it and not only that, I’d made history; I’d become the first person in the world to swim one mile in the Antarctic Polar Circle.

“I was so chuffed that I’d done it. The enormity of it didn’t really hit me. I trained really, really hard, I pushed my body to the limits and to be the first – to say you’ve done anything first in the world – is absolutely awesome.”

“I’m a middle-aged, single mum from Wales and I know I don’t look like an athlete, but looks can be deceiving.”