Former Stafford pupil takes home silver medal in ice swimming competition
A former Stafford pupil has taken home a silver medal while representing Great Britain at the international ice swimming championships in Russia.
Ice swimmer Caroline Saxon raced to a 1km silver medal and soared to the top of the British rankings, while her mother brought home to Eccleshall a bronze award.
The temperature of the lake in Murmansk plummeted to zero degrees as the 27-year-old former Stafford Grammar athlete began the 1,000m international race.
Representing Team GB, Caroline finished runner-up in the women’s age 25-29 category, behind Argentinian gold medalist Victoria Mori.
Ice swimming takes place in water temperatures of 5°C and below and the international championships attracted 400 swimmers from 32 countries.
Caroline’s time of 14.55mins gives her the number one slot in Britain and a world ranking of eighth.
Meanwhile her mum, Anne Saxon, signed up for the inaugural Arctic Cup competition.
With the air temperature down to -3°C, the retired SGS geography teacher came away with a bronze medal behind opponents from Russia and China in the 50m breaststroke for the women’s 60-64 year age group.
Anne said: “I had no idea what I was capable of achieving so I tried competitive ice swimming, which was very invigorating.
"My race took place in a snowstorm which added to the excitement!”
