Training Science Podcast The Science of Cold Water and Extreme Endurance With Dr Jørgen Melau and Prof Paul Laursen
Sep 11, 2026
Dr Jørgen Melau, a Norwegian paramedic and cold-water safety researcher, draws on rescue work and Norseman triathlon experience. He explores cold shock, rapid muscle failure, hypothermia, afterdrop, cardiac risks, and swimming-induced pulmonary edema. The conversation also examines wetsuit fit, preparation for extreme races, and how research is making endurance events safer.
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Muscle Failure Can Precede Hypothermia
- Cold-water immersion progresses from cold shock to impaired muscle function and, later, hypothermia.
- Muscle cooling can disable swimming within three to five minutes, leaving victims unable to self-rescue while still conscious and normothermic.
Swimming Can Increase Cold-Water Heat Loss
- Swimming produces heat but also moves warm blood toward the skin, accelerating heat loss in cold water.
- Norseman data showed some athletes cooled during the swim yet later exceeded 40°C while running.
Why Cold Swimmers May Develop Pulmonary Edema
- Swimming-induced pulmonary edema can develop during or after cold-water exercise, initially resembling ordinary fatigue and heavy breathing.
- Medical teams use oxygen saturation and, when needed, lung ultrasound to identify the problem.