Wim Hof, Dutch 'Iceman,' Plans To Break Ice Bath Record (VIDEO)
Talk about a shiver-inducing feat: a 51-year-old Dutchman immersed himself in a tank of ice water in an effort to both promote climate change and break a world record at a Hong Kong event.
As CBS is reporting, Wim Hof of the Netherlands -- also known as "Iceman" -- jumped into the tank wearing only a swimsuit at an event organized by environmental advocacy group Green Sense in Tsim Sha Tsui. Hof called his Wednesday appearance a "dry run" for New Year's Eve, as the event also promoted his goal of breaking his own record by staying in an ice bath for one hour and 50 minutes.
Though he reportedly set the record for staying in an ice bath for one hour and 44 minutes in January, Hof -- who is listed as running the fastest half-marathon barefoot on ice or snow -- was beaten by Chen Kecai of China, the current champion for full body contact with ice after spending one hour, 48 minutes and 21 seconds in an ice bath March 14.
And while he's also reportedly scaled Mount Kilimanjaro in two days in his shorts and, wearing the same attire, ran a full marathon above the polar circle in Finland, the extreme sportsman insists most of his preparation is mental. "When I am performing ice immersion, actually I do not think very much," he said. "I like a psychic preparation, and it is not of one day. It's of many days. It's coming. It's going. It's coming and going. It's like preparing yourself inside for what is to come."
Watch video of Hof's amazing feat here:
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First Posted: 12/30/10 08:42 AM ET Updated: 05/25/11 07:20 PM ET