The Legendary Swimming Marathon World Cup winner for 11 consecutive years (2001-2011), World Champion in swimming in ice water in a pool near the Russian city of Murmansk in 2019, and winner in swimming in freezing conditions near the Norwegian island of Svalbard last year - Petar Stoychev, seems to have a worthy successor in the face of Radostin Krustev. At the championships, which took place from 12 to 15 January in the French town of Samois sur Seine, Krustev won the world title in swimming in icy waters.

The Bulgarian won the 500 m freestyle in 5 minutes and 36 seconds. No better time has been recorded by any competitor in the previous four editions of the championships. There was a tough competition as more than 500 swimmers from 70 countries around the world took part in the race.