The reward is an Ogi handshake

Shaking for a good cause: With 506 participants, the Blausee swimming set a new record this year. Not as a swimmer, but as a motivator in the middle: former Federal Councilor Adolf Ogi (80).

“I only saw happy faces and shining eyes,” he tells Blick. The man from Bern did not miss the opportunity to greet each participant with a handshake after the 46-meter swim. Including celebrities from business, sports, politics and culture – such as ex-alderman Beatrice Simon (61).

Ogi herself knows that it takes a lot of courage to step into the about five degrees cold water. He himself covered the distance in 2018. “It was still snowing then.”

About a third of the participants are good swimmers who would not worry, Ogi analyzes the field of participants. Another third is aware of the challenge and the final third enters the water with some concerns. “I belonged to the middle third myself at the time,” he says with a laugh. He is hardened: “When I take a shower, I turn it on cold at the end.”

Proceeds for Stiftung Freude rules

Ogi is all the more pleased with the new record number of participants, because it should also mean a greater contribution to his foundation that rules Freude. The last dive was over 22,000 francs.

The foundation aims to inspire children and young people to exercise and exercise. “Since 2011, we have moved more than 850,000 children with games, sports and fun,” says the current honorary chairman. “We took these kids away from the computer and into nature.”

Samichlaus swims in Zurich

Not only in the Bernese Oberland, but also in Zurich, swimmers dared to swim in the icy water. The traditional Sinterklaas swimming took place here. In Oberen Letten, about 400 participants covered a distance of 95 or 140 meters in the Limmat. The proceeds go to the Idée Sport Foundation.