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News • Rovaniemi, tourism • Rovaniemi • Lapland • Finland • 2014-03-18

WSWC 2014 Start This Week – Will Georgian Superman Conquer the Podium?

A definite highlight event of the year in Rovaniemi, the Winter Swimming World Championships start Thursday 20th March in the icy pools of the River Kemi.

More than 1 200 swimmers from 34 countries take part in the four-day event, battling for glory in endurance swimming, breaststroke, freestyle, and relay.

While cheering on their favourite swimmers, there are plenty of services keeping spectators happy and warm at the swim stadium.

Finnish Lapland delicacies like salmon and vendace as well as hot and frosty drinks will be served in the restaurant and traditional “kota” tepee next to the stands.

Georgian Superman a Favourite

Henri Kuprashvili, 67, will be arriving in Rovaniemi from Georgian capital Tbilisi. The man is not your average Sunday swimmer: Kuprashvili is a Doctor of Political Sciences, First Class State Councillor, historian, journalist and former Soviet Army soldier.

Kuprashvili also holds a Guinness World Record for swimming the Dardanelles strait with his hands and feet bound in a traditional Georgian style of swimming.

The swimming style, emulating the motions of mammals like dolphins and seals, was nearly forgotten in Georgia until Kuprashvili revived the tradition.

The man himself is humble ahead of WSWC 2014.

- I want to win a place in the competition, he says.

Looking Forward to Wintry Finland

Kuprashvili has practiced winter swimming for a year. The trip to Rovaniemi, the official home town of Santa Claus is a first for him. However, the multitalented Georgian is familiar with Finnish institutions.

- Who wouldn’t know Jean Sibelius, Alvar Aalto, Urho Kekkonen or C.G.E. Mannerheim? Finland is a fabulous snowy country in the north and I’m very excited ahead of my visit, says Kuprashvili.

In his home country, Henri Kuprashvili is a well-known academic and swimmer. Sports site worldsport.ge will be sending a journalist to Rovaniemi to follow his competition stretch in WSWC 2014.

Footballing Young Seals

WSWC 2014 is a serious sports competition, but togetherness and good times are also at the centre of the event.

As a testimony to this is the Young Seals category, which involves a dip or a short swim in the cold water, and anyone can sign up.

On Friday, players of local football club Santa Claus FC will be taking part in Young Seals.

- FC Santa Claus is Santa’s official football club, and we’ve been part of several charity events. Now we’re taking on a new wintry challenge, says Chairman Juha Eteläinen.

From Brazil to WSWC 2014

32-year-old Helen Galan from São Paulo, Brazil, has never seen snow. Her friend from Rovaniemi urged her to sign up for the Young Seals category.

- I wanted to do something really Finnish. Coming from a tropical country, winter swimming might prove quite the challenge, says Galan.

On her trip to Finnish Lapland, the young woman would like nothing better than to see the Northern Lights.

- I want to ski and see reindeer and husky dogs. I’m also interested in local culture and food, Galan lists in wait of her trip.

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