She already holds a Guinness World Record for the fastest ocean mile swim, after swimming across the Drake Passage in June 2022. The water temperature there, in the South American Cape of Horn, is usually around 43* F to 30* F. Now, undertaking an even tougher adventure, she became the first person to swim 1.55 miles in the frigid conditions of the South Pole.

A Psychologist as well, this Chilean open-water swimmer achieved the feat in 45 minutes and 30 seconds. Also impressive is the fact that this time the temperature of the water was 36* F.

Barbara Hernandez fulfilled her dream after swimming in Antarctica

Antarctica, which is frozen throughout the year, is also a hotspot for some adventurists. Besides its scientific bases, the continent might have very little to offer in terms of man-made beauty. But the white-clad, snow-covered landscape is often why few tourists, nature activists, and adventure sports lovers often visit the place. One such swimmer who often dared to dream such dreams is Barbara Hernandez. She wrote in her Instagram post, “Swimming in Antarctica was my dream..”.

After completing the feat, She also told PR Newswire, “I’m so happy and so relieved that it all went well. Swimming in Antarctica has been a dream I’ve had for years, and part of my longtime ambition to swim in parts of all seven of the world’s oceans. Physically it has been incredibly tough, but all worth it if the message on the need for urgent action to protect these amazing waters reaches decision-makers”.

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Part of the reason Hernandez wanted to achieve the feat in Antarctica was to raise climate change awareness and the need to protect the pristine waters of the relatively lesser-touched continent. Hernandez safely finished that treacherous swim and didn’t face any trouble. But it wasn’t the same for every open-water swimmer as one faced his worst fate in 2014.

Hernandez’s contribution to open-water swimming and the future of the sport

Open-water swimmer Steve Robles made the headlines in 2014 after completing the ‘Swim from Hell’ and miraculously escaping a Great White Shark attack. Robles, a LA county lifeguard, was swimming across the coast of Southern California. Not anticipating an ambush from the shark, his life was in danger. He survived the shark attack but was left with a permanent mark on the right side of his chest.

Open-water swimming, despite its dangers, is more encouraged now and is also part of the next Olympics in Paris. Swimmers will be competing at the event on the river Seine, which will be closely monitored. With feats like that of Hernandez, it is likely that more people will pick up the sport and dream big.

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