On 10 Feb I went along to the taking place at the Winter Swimming Championships at Tooting Bec Lido. This (above) is the scene as I arrive. People are swimming in freezing water and being watched by hordes of impressed onlookers. The races are an annual ritual in Finland but this year they are taking place in London. The event is a gathering of jolly people from all over the world. This is Richard Milton from London. He was about to compete in one of the many men's races. He advises wearing bright colours, like pink, because they distract the crowd's attention away from your shrunken willy at the end of the race. He is a police officer. Women are competing too and are also feeling the effects of the water temperature, which is around 8 degrees C. This is Vasilii Smirnov from Russia, a veteran of the sport and a past champion. He is also a keen ballerina and performs by the poolside with his family - all of whom are swimmers. He can swim for 20 minutes in water of 4 degrees C. At one point Tooting Bec paramedics have to order him out of the pool because he had spent over an hour the icy water. This is Normunds from Slovakia. He has just finished a race in second place. Moments after having this photograph taken he will disappear from the lido in a huff about not winning. He is one of many athletes that take the sport very seriously. Contestants have to swim one 25 metre length using breast stroke only. They are watched by over 20 officials. There is a sauna for the swimmers to warm up in. There is also a hot tub along with beer and a hog roast. This is Cyril Wood. He is 83 years old and has been open air swimming since 1935 with his wife and her five brothers. He was a civil servant in the Department of Education and Science until he retired. He has just won the race in the eldest competing category. He says that he considers himself mad. He looks incredibly young for his age. If you fancy swimming competitively in cold water, click here. Photography by William Pine