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The Merthyr Mermaid, Cath Pendleton.
Cath Pendleton, also known as "The Merthyr Mermaid" is an open water and ice swimmer from Wales and as an Ambassador for Swim Secure helps share the #BeSaferBeSeen message when open water swimming.
Cath is a Guinness World Record Holder for the Most Southerly Ice Swim (female), achieving this record for becoming the first person in the world to swim an ice mile inside the Antarctic Polar circle in February 2020.
Cath swimming in the Antarctic completing her Ice Mile with our Wild Swimming Bag for high visibility
Her story was captured by BBC Wales for a documentary about ordinary people achieving extraordinary things, titled “The Merthyr Mermaid” and it is still available to watch on BBC iPlayer BBC One - click on the link to watch https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000qnb4
She has done many long distance swims, including the English Channel in 2018, and has also represented IISA Great Britain at the World Ice Swimming Championships (IISA) in Murmansk, Russia in 2019 and won bronze in her age category.
She is always looking forward to new challenges and is truly passionate about encouraging participation in sport, particularly open water swimming.
Cath using her Wild Swim Bag while SUPing
She really wants to be a great role model for all those that are anxious about dipping their toes in! She often heard to say “To make me happy, just add cold water!”
Cath swimming in a local pond with our Pink Tow Donut
In relation to open water swim events and challenges Cath is hoping to finish the Ice Sevens over the next two years, as Covid has delayed everything. She still has South America, North America, Asia and Oceania to complete.
Cath has entered a few UK open water swim events for 2021. See below. Why not click on the links and see if you would like to take part.