More and more intrepid people are venturing into the deep end in Geneva
Published: Saturday, Dec 16th 2023, 17:00
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Lovers of cold-water swimming set a record number of participants at the Coupe de Noël in Geneva. Around 4300 people ventured into Lake Geneva. The most daring covered half a kilometer at the "Givrée du Jet d'eau" on Saturday.
85 people took part in the swimming competition in water that was just over 8 degrees - more than 300 had applied. The fastest participant took less than five and a half minutes to complete the course.
Thousands of other intrepid people swam around a hundred meters along the Jardin anglais instead. Some wore costumes and were dressed up as insects, fruit or penguins. According to the organizers, more than 2,000 requests had to be turned away.
The current flood situation had an impact on the event: the pontoon had to be raised by one meter. The conditions were not particularly favorable. The sewage treatment plants were overloaded and dirty water was being discharged into the lake, the head of the cantonal command staff of the canton of Vaud told the Keystone-SDA news agency.
The Coupe de Noël was held for the first time in 1934. It is considered the oldest sports competition in Geneva.
©Keystone/SDA
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