On April 12, 2024, Nicola Housam and Frances Mills made history by breaking a world swimming record at the Winter Swimming World Championships in Tallinn, Estonia. The founders of the Boston Bluetits Chill Swimming Club, both NHS hospital workers from Lincolnshire, joined over 800 other swimmers in a seven-hour relay race in the icy waters of the Baltic Sea. Despite the challenging conditions, they finished strong and set a new world record.
Housam and Mills were part of a global event that included swimmers from over 40 countries. They described the experience as amazing, with Housam noting that the cold water brought everyone closer together and kept their adrenaline going. The sense of community and camaraderie among the swimmers was palpable, with Bluetit team members from around the world making a strong showing.
Housam achieved 16th place in the world in the 25m breaststroke and 11th in the 50m breaststroke, while Mills competed in the 25m front crawl and set a personal best. Both women emphasized the special nature of open water swimming, highlighting the joy of sharing post-swim warmth and camaraderie with fellow swimmers from diverse backgrounds. They agreed that participating in a sport they love, surrounded by like-minded individuals from across the globe, was both fulfilling and rewarding. Breaking a world record was just an added bonus to an already unforgettable experience.
