A competitor in the freezing waters of Lac Leman taking part in the Coupe de Noël, a swimming race held in Geneva each year.

---

Each year in mid-December the ‘Coupe de Noel’ (Christmas Cup) swimming race is held in the cold waters of Lac Leman (Lake Geneva). At this time of year the water temperature is about 4 to 5 degrees Celsius and the air temperature anywhere between 10 and minus 10 degrees Celsius. This event was first held in 1934 and the race covers a distance of 125 metres. Entrants usually dress up in fancy clothes to take part.

---

Size: 5150px × 3427px
Location: Lac Leman, Geneva, Switzerland
Photo credit: © Alistair Scott / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: beard, bearded, brave, bravery, breast, challenge, cold, courage, courageous, cup”, de, december, effort, elderly, event, exercise, exertion, fit, fitness, freezing, geneva, geneva”, geneve, horizontal, icy, leman”, male, man, noel”, pluck, plucky, race, stroke, swimmer, swimming, swiss, switzerland, test, traditional, water, wet, winter, “christmas, “coupe, “lac, “lake