DR ‹ › More than 80 experienced swimmers took on the freezing waters of Lake Aguelmam Azegza this weekend, as part of the 9th edition of Ice Swim in Morocco, an international cold-water swimming competition held in the Khénifra province. Organized by the Moroccan Association Sport et Nature in partnership with the Royal Moroccan Swimming Federation and the Khénifra provincial authorities, the event is Morocco's first ice-swimming competition. It has been held annually since 2018 at Lake Aguelmam Azegza. The lake is notably the first in Morocco to be awarded the Blue Flag label, recognizing high environmental standards and sustainable management. Despite low temperatures, snowfall, and the challenging access to the site, nestled between rocky slopes and cedar forests in the heart of the Middle Atlas, participants competed in a wide range of events. These included 50 m, 100 m breaststroke, 100 m, 250 m, 500 m, and 1,000 m freestyle races, as well as 50 m butterfly and 50 m backstroke. Speaking to MAP, world-renowned swimmer Hassan Baraka, the initiator of the event, said the ninth edition brought together 87 seasoned swimmers from seven countries. Alongside Morocco, participants came from Germany, the United Kingdom, Norway, Poland, France, and Spain. He added that this year's competition also offered many swimmers their first experience of cold-water swimming, in what he described as a unique sporting and competitive atmosphere. For his part, Mustapha Bairiz, CEO of Atlas for Tourism Development in the Béni Mellal-Khénifra region, highlighted the area's exceptional natural and tourism assets, making it a prime destination for nature lovers and mountain sports enthusiasts. According to Bairiz, hosting international events of this scale helps raise the region's national and international profile and positions Lake Aguelmam Azegza as one of the leading sites for ice swimming. The awards ceremony was held in the presence of Mohamed Adil Ihourane, governor of Khénifra province, along with elected officials and several civilian and military figures.
