sports

February 24, 2026

Swimmers brave icy Moscow canal for water polo match (PHOTOS)

The ‘Friendship Cup’ swimming event has taken place in the Moscow Rowing Canal as temperatures plunged to -5°C

Swimmers brave icy Moscow canal for water polo match (PHOTOS)

TL;DR

  • An open-air winter swimming event, the "Friendship Cup – Moscow 2026", took place in the Russian capital.
  • Athletes competed in water polo and swimming in a 25-meter pool carved into the ice of the Moscow Rowing Canal.
  • The air temperature was approximately -5°C during the event.
  • Ice swimming is a long-standing tradition in Russia, with thousands participating in Epiphany swims.
  • The festival ran from February 20 to February 23, a Russian national holiday.
  • The aqua-event tradition dates back to February 23, 1951, and was revived in 2023.
  • The Moscow Rowing Canal has a history of hosting major sporting events, including the 1980 Olympics rowing competitions.

Continue reading the original article

Made withNostr