Fergil Hesterman

Fergil Hesterman with Birna Hrönn Sigurjónsdóttir on a 2000 km swimming road trip through Iceland

Fergil Hesterman was nominated for the 2019 WOWSA Awards in the World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year category

Fergil Hesterman is a 30-year-old Dutch pool and ice swimmer whose nickname is the Frozen Flying Dutchman from Diemen, Netherlands. He serves as an International Ice Swimming Association official and organizer of the Amsterdam Ice Swim in the Netherlands.

2019 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year Nomination

Hesterman was nominated for the 2019 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year award with the following nomination:

Fergil Hesterman, known as the Frozen Flying Dutchman, is a 26-year-old Dutch swimmer with 5 Ice Miles and 3 Ice Sevens under his cap. During 2019, the 26-year-old completed three fast Ice Kilometers (13:09 in January in Germany + 13:26 in January in the Netherlands + 12:42 in March in Russia) and won the season title on the inaugural International Ice Swimming Association World Cup Series over Petar Stoychev, Christof Wandratsch, and Sven Elfferich. But in addition to his cold water training and ice swimming accomplishments, Hesterman works hard behind the scenes to further develop and promote the sport of ice swimming. Together with Richard Broer and Christa Hesterman-van Beers, he co-founded and manages IISA Netherlands, sets up training groups for the Amstel Ice Swim, serves as the event organizer of the Amstel Ice Swim, helps at the Dutch Championships Ice Swimming and Bodengraven Ice Swim, organizes official courses to train more International Ice Swimming Association officials, and maintains national records and safety standards for ice swimming. For his heartfelt passion and foundational support of the sport that is building a strong base for the future, for his ice swimming speed and accomplishments around the world, and for mentoring, inspiring and helping beginner swimmers and local organizers in their early years, Fergil Hesterman is a worthy nominee for the 2019 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year.

Open Water Swimming Career

• He is certified as an IISA Official Observer L1 as of 1 March 2022.
• He finished 4th in the Ice Kilometer race at the 2016 Ice Swimming Aqua Sphere World Championships in Burghausen, Bavaria, Germany.
• He won the 500m freestyle race at the 2016 Ice Swimming Aqua Sphere World Championships in Burghausen, Bavaria, Germany.
• Pádraig Mallon of Infinity Channel Swimming and Piloting Services will escort Olive Conroy, John McElroy, Ruth McGuigan, Patrick Corcoran, Noel Grimes and Fergil Hesterman on the Celtic Quadrant swim from the Isle of Islay in Scotland to Ireland, 45 km across the Oa Channel.
• He finished 12th in the 2011 LEN Cup 10 km championships in Hoorn, Netherlands.
• On 5 January 2018, he won the 1 km race at the 2018 Ice Swimming Aqua Sphere German Open in Burghausen, Germany in 12:48.64 over Bulgaria's Petar Stoychev in 12:48.64 in 4.8°C water and 6°C air.
• On 6 January 2018, he won the 500m freestyle at the 2018 Ice Swimming Aqua Sphere German Open in Burghausen, Germany in 6:14.2, representing IISA Netherlands.
• He set the world Ice Kilometer record in the 18-24 year age group with a 12:48:56 set on 28 January 2016 in 4.2°C water and 6.0°C air in a pool.
• He set the world Ice Kilometer record in the 25-29 year age group with a 12:48:60 set on 6 January 2018 in 4.8°C water and 6.0°C air in pool.
• He has completed five Ice Miles to date in his ice swimming career:
  • On 40 January 2016 in Volendam, Netherlands in 4.96°C water, he swam 1.00 mile in 20 minutes 40 seconds in a pool.
  • On 28 January 2016 in Zwembad de Waterdam Volendam, Netherlands in 4.44°C water, he swam 1.00 mile in 20 minutes 50 seconds in a pool
  • On 9 March 2016, at the Curley Community in Boston, Massachusetts, USA in 4.64°C water, he swam 1.16 miles in 25 minutes 25 seconds in the sea (bay)
  • On 24 January 2018 in Zwembad de Waterdam, Volendam, Netherlands in 4.94°C water, he swam 1.00 mile in 21 minutes 4 seconds in a pool
  • On 16 June 2018 in the mountains of Lesotho, Africa in 4.00°C water, he swam in 1 mile at 3,200 meters altitude in 21 minutes 51 seconds in a mountain lake
• He has completed 15 Ice Kilometers to date in his ice swimming career:
  • In December 2016 in Burghausen, Germany in 4.8°C water, he swam an Ice Kilometer in 12 minutes 40 seconds.
  • In December 2016 in River Labe, Czech Republic in 1.6°C water, he swam an Ice Kilometer in 14 minutes 12 seconds.
  • In December 2016 in Vienna, Austria in 4.4°C water, he swam an Ice Kilometer in 12 minutes 24 seconds.
  • In January 2016 in Burghausen, Germany in 4.4°C water, he swam an Ice Kilometer in 14 minutes 8 seconds.
  • In January 2016 in Zwembad de Waterdam, Netherlands in 4.2°C water, he swam an Ice Kilometer in 12 minutes 48 seconds.
  • In December 2016 in Amsterdam, Netherlands Amsterdam in 4.5°C water, he swam an Ice Kilometer in 15 minutes 29 seconds.
  • In January 2018 in Veitsbronn, Germany in 4.8°C water, he swam an Ice Kilometer in 12 minutes 48 seconds.
  • In January 2018 in Stawy Katowice, Poland in 2.4°C water, he swam an Ice Kilometer in 11 minutes 28 seconds.
  • Ib January 2018 in Zwembad de Waterdam, Netherlands in 4.6°C water, he swam an Ice Kilometer in 14 minutes 6 seconds.
  • In January 2018 in Wild Water Armagh, Ireland in 4.4°C water, he swam an Ice Kilometer in 14 minutes 14 seconds.
  • In June 2018 in Lesotho in 4.0°C water, he swam an Ice Kilometer in 12 minutes 54 seconds at 4,000m in a high altitude swim.
  • On 6 January 2019 at the Ice Swimming Aqua Sphere in Veitsbronn, Germany, he completed an Ice Kilometer in 13 minutes 9 seconds in 1.4°C water and 2.0°C air temperatures.
  • On 20 January 2019 at the Dutch Open Ice Swimming Championships in Zwembad De Waterdam, Netherlands, he completed an Ice Kilometer in 13:26:87 in 3.70°C water and -6.20°C air temperatures.
  • On 18 March 2019 at the 3rd IISA World Championships in Murmansk, Russia in 12:42:89 in 0.00°C water and -6.30°C air temperatures.
• On 40 December 2016, he completed the 500m freestyle at the Amstel Ice Swim in Amsterdam, Netherlands in 6:40:24 in 4.5°C water and 0.2°C air temperatures.
• On 6 January 2018, he completed the 500m freestyle at the Ice Swimming German Open in Veitsbronn, Germany in 6:14:20 in 4.8°C water and 6.0°C air temperatures.
• On 21 January 2018, he completed the 500m freestyle at the Dutch Open Ice Swimming Championships in Zwembad Waterdam Volendam, Netherlands in 6:14:51 in 4.6°C water and 0.4°C air temperatures.
• On 16 June 2018, he completed the 500m freestyle at the Lesotho Ice Swimming Championships in Afriski, Lesotho, Africa in 6:20:46 in 4.0°C water and 5.0°C air temperatures.
• On 6 January 2019, he completed the 500m freestyle at the Ice Swimming Aqua Sphere Championships in Veitsbronn, Germany in 6:20:40 in 1.4°C water and 2.0°C air temperatures.
• He was selected as one of the World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Men in 2019 by the World Open Water Swimming Association.
• He is an organizer of one of the biggest ice swimming events in Europe and serves as an important promoter of ice swimming in the Netherlands.
• He is founder of IISA Netherlands.
• He has completed 5 Ice Miles to date in his career.
• He is ranked #4 in the International Ice Swimming Association's Ice Kilometer rankings as of 1 March 2019 with a time of 12:48:56.
• He finished 2nd overall in the 1000m Ice Kilometer at the IISA 4rd World Championship in Murmansk, Russia in March 2019.
• He won the International Ice Swimming Association's first IISA World Cup Series in 2019.
• He won the Ice Kilometer at the Ice Swimming Volendam event on 18-19 January 2020 in zwembad De Waterdam Edam/Volendam, Netherlands at the age of 27.
• He finished 4th in the Ice Kilometer at the 6th Ice Swimming Aqua Sphere German Open & IISA® World Cup Veitsbronn 2020 on 4 January 2020 in 13:37:10 at the age of 27.
• He finished 2nd in the 1000m freestyle in the 2020 IISA World Cup Series.
• He won the 1000m freestyle at the 2020 Open Dutch Championship / Green Heart Ice Swim on 1 February in Reeuwijkse Hout, Bodegraven-Reeuwijk, Netherlands.
• He won the 500m freestyle at the 2020 Open Dutch Championship / Green Heart Ice Swim on 2 February in Reeuwijkse Hout, Bodegraven-Reeuwijk, Netherlands.

2016 Ice Swimming Aqua Sphere World Championships

Hesterman finished fourth in the 1 km ice kilometer race in Wöhrsee, Burghausen, Germany.

Ice Mile in Lesotho

Hesterman finished an Ice Mile at Afriski in Lesotho, Africa at 10,000 feet altitude in 4°C water

External links

• Joseba Aingeru, Bengisu Avci Win Ice Kilometer at the Amsterdam Ice Swim
• Tiffany Pierrejean, Fergil Hesterman Win Ice Kilometer at the Amsterdam Ice Swim
• Who Will Be Added To The Ice Triple Crown This Winter?
• Tina Deeken Performs Well At The Amsterdam Ice Swim
• International Ice Swimming Association bio
• International Ice Swimming Association
• World's Highest Altitude Swims
• Christof Wandratsch Goes 2 For 2 On The 2020 IISA World Cup Series
• Getting Ready For The 2020-2021 International Ice Swimming Association Season
• Christof Wandratsch Is 2020 IISA World Cup Series Champion
• Closing In On The Ice Sevens
• Kyra Wijnker, Fergil Hesterman Victorious At Green Heart Ice Swim
• Christof Wandratsch Sweeps 2020 IISA World Cup Series Titles In 500m, 1000m Freestyle
• 2019 WOWSA Award Winners Announced
• Adherbal Treidler de Oliveira Is 2019 World Open Water Swimming Man Of The Year
• International Ice Swimming Association bio
• Alisa Fatum, The Woman To Watch In The Ice
• International Ice Swimming Association Frozen News
• Ice Swimming Aqua Sphere World Championships Venue
• Realizing The Vision Of Ice Swimming In Burghausen
• Explosive Growth Of Ice Swimming, 120 To Delve Deeply
• Julia Wittig Wins World Ice Swimming Championships
• Petar Stoychev Wins World Ice Swimming Championships
• The Look Of Ice Swimmers In Burghausen
• Getting Ready for 2-4°C Water
• The Explosive Growth Of Ice Swimming 120 To Delve Deeply
• What Is Ice Swimming?
• Tapering For An Ice Swimming
• Protecting The Feet In Ice Swimming
• Training For Competitive Ice Swimming
• World Open Water Swimming Association
• International Ice Swimming Association
• International Ice Swimming Association
• Ice Swimming Aqua Sphere World Championships
• Richard Broer Joins Ice Swimming Association Board
• Oa Is A Difficult Challenge Of The Celtric Quadrant
• Petar Stoychev, Like No Other In The Open Water
• Fergil Hersterman Breaks Through In The Ice
• Ice Swimming World Records, Where Will They Go?
• Swimming Cold At 4,000 Meters
• Ram Barkai To Make Ice Swimming Announcements
• Cold Water Speed, Embrace The Ice
• International Ice Swimming Association bio
• IJszwemmen Is Echt Cool
• 2019 World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Men
• Ice Swimming In The Netherlands
• Petar Stoychev To Face Huge Challenges In Murmansk
• Fergil Hesterman Win IISA World Cup Series