Prague's "Three Kings" swim under the city's famous Charles Bridge in freezing temperatures

Record ID: 163138

  • Title: Prague's "Three Kings" swim under the city's famous Charles Bridge in freezing temperatures
  • Date: 6th January 2017
  • Summary: PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (JANUARY 6, 2017) (REUTERS) CHARLES BRIDGE AND PRAGUE CASTLE TOURISTS ON CHARLES BRIDGE VARIOUS OF WINTER SWIMMERS ARRIVING, POSING FOR FAMILY PHOTO POSTER SHOWING AIR TEMPERATURE AT -8 DEGREES AND WATER TEMPERATURE AT 0.9 DEGREES WINTER SWIMMERS HEADING TO RIVER TOURISTS WATCHING FROM CHARLES BRIDGE WINTER SWIMMERS ON BOAT CHARLES BRIDGE SEEN FROM WATER SWIMMER GETTING READY TO ENTER WATER CHARLES BRIDGE VARIOUS OF SWIMMERS ENTERING WATER, THREE OF THEM WEARING CROWNS TO RESEMBLE THE THREE KINGS PEOPLE WATCHING AND WAVING TO SWIMMERS FROM CHARLES BRIDGE SWIMMERS IN VLTAVA RIVER "THREE KINGS" SWIMMING SWANS AND DUCKS CLOSE TO SHORE SWIMMERS IN WATER (SOUNDBITE) (Czech) WINTER SWIMMER, OTA, SAYING: "This is luxury for us. Warm - we couldn't wish for anything more." THREE KINGS IN WATER PEOPLE WATCHING FROM CHARLES BRIDGE (SOUNDBITE) (Czech) CZECH WINTER SWIMMER UNION LEADER, VLADIMIR KOMAREK, SAYING: "There are 23 of us, the air temperature is eight degrees below zero, the water is not even one degree, it's sunny and there's a bit of snow - it is just successful swimming." "THREE KINGS" SWIMMING AROUND BOAT SWIMMERS GETTING OUT OF WATER "THREE KINGS" ON SNOW-COVERED SHORE (SOUNDBITE) (Czech) WINTER SWIMMER, ZDENEK HRDY, SAYING: "The water was pretty cold and we were in for quite a long time. But you manage." CHARLES BRIDGE PRAGUE CASTLE
  • Embargoed: 21st January 2017 14:01
  • Keywords: Epiphany Prague Charles Bridge swimmers freezing temperatures
  • Location: PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
  • City: PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
  • Country: Czech Republic
  • Topics: Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015XXZGOP
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Prague's "Three Kings" jumped into the Vltava River on Friday (January 6) followed by 20 winter swimmers to celebrate Epiphany.
    As tourists swathed in winter coats, scarfs and hats watched from the city's famous Charles Bridge, the daring group of swimmers plunged into the icy water wearing only swimsuits.
    The water was just 0.9 degrees and the air temperature a chilly minus 8 degrees.
    Cold showers, outdoor winter swimming and other Spartan ways of experiencing the cold are still practised by hundreds of Czechs who claim it makes them happier, healthier and more resilient.
    "This is luxury for us. Warm - we couldn't wish for anything more," Ota, one of the swimmers, told Reuters from the water.
    "There are 23 of us, the air temperature is eight degrees below zero, the water is not even one degree, it's sunny and there's a bit of snow - it is just successful swimming," said Vladimir Kovarek, one of the "kings" and leader of the Czech Winter Swimmer Union.
    "The water was pretty cold and we were in for quite a long time. But you manage," fellow king Zdenek Hrdy said as he exited the water.
    Epiphany is celebrated 12 days after Christmas (on January 6 or January 19 for Orthodox Christians who celebrate Christmas on January 7) and is the time when Christians remember the Wise Men (Three Kings) who visited Jesus in Bethlehem.
    Some Churches also celebrate when Jesus was baptised aged around 30 and started his teachings about God.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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