Nicola Housam and Frances Mills, the founders of Boston Bluetits Chill Swimming Club, made history on 12 April 2024 by breaking a world swimming record at the Winter Swimming World Championships in Tallinn, Estonia. The two Lincolnshire NHS hospital workers joined 800 other swimmers in the largest ever relay race, braving the icy waters of the Baltic Sea as ice formed in the swimming lanes during the seven-hour event.
Representing their club and the UK, Housam and Mills were among swimmers from over 40 countries, creating a truly global event. Despite the challenging conditions, both women described the experience as amazing. Housam noted that the cold water brought everyone closer together and kept their adrenaline going. The sense of community and camaraderie among the swimmers was palpable, with the Bluetit team of over 60 members from around the world making a strong showing.
Housam achieved 16th place in the world in the 25m breaststroke and 11th in the 50m breaststroke, while Mills competed in the 25m front crawl and set a personal best. Both women emphasized
