Gone were the days of long distance running and competing in triathlons for Bluetits’ founder Sian Richardson when she began cold-water swimming in 2014. What started as her turning to a gentler hobby after 15 years of strenuous, competitive sports turned into a community of over 100,000 members known as the Bluetits \u2013 a worldwide network held together by a shared love of cold-water swimming and adventures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Still one to \u201clove a challenge\u201d, the swimmer from St David\u2019s began training for the ice mile \u2013 a one-mile swim under International Ice Swimming Association<\/a> rules in water temperature of 5 degrees Celsius or less wearing just a standard costume, goggles and a swim hat. She soon realised she had been deceived by thinking a mile swim can\u2019t really be that hard (she had competed in much longer distance races, after all). <\/p>\n\n\n\n The 58-year-old, who made it to the top 20 on BBC Women\u2019s Hour Power List<\/a> 2023, began her cold-water swimming journey a decade ago when it was a novelty to see people in the sea during colder months. It started with her going into the water for two minutes, screaming and getting out again. Returning to the beach, she would be met by confused, sometimes worried, other times rather angry passers-by. But, being her chatty self, once she struck up a conversation with them, they appreciated what she was doing. Occasionally they\u2019d even ask to join in, and this started to lay the foundations for the Bluetits. <\/p>\n\n\n\nBluetits’ beginnings <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n