At one with the water
The moment Lene Nørbøge steps into the water, her thoughts dissolve.
She thinks of nothing but the cold water, her breath, and her body moving forward.
At one with the water
The water has always been important for Lene. Her mother was a swimmer, she competed in the 1960s Olympics in Rome. During childhood Lene swam competitively on a high level. After marriage and having children she quit competitions, but the pull of the water never really left. In her fifties she discovered ice swimming, challenging herself during races in near-freezing water. For her, it is like meditation. She loses her thoughts and is one with herself in the water.
To Lene, ice swimming is not only about the feeling of the water, it is also about community. During the moments in the water she is by herself and with herself, yet she is always surrounded by others. Swimming alone in icy water is dangerous and never advised. But beyond safety, she says, it is about community. Without speaking, you feel connected to the people you swim with, more so than in regular swimming.
In the cold water Lene finds both solitude and closeness with others. She considers every competition season to be the last before she quits, but cannot resist going back to the water. As long as she is able to, Lene will continue ice swimming
