The Science of Cold Water and Extreme Endurance With Dr Jørgen Melau and Prof Paul Laursen

What actually happens to the body when an athlete enters dangerously cold water?

Dr Jørgen Melau brings more than 20 years of experience as Safety Director and Chief of the Medical and Safety Team at the Norseman Extreme Triathlon, alongside a background in helicopter search and rescue and research into cold water swimming.

In this episode, Jørgen breaks down the physiology of cold water immersion, from the initial cold shock response to the loss of muscle function that can occur within minutes. He also explores hypothermia, swimming induced pulmonary edema, the surprising temperature drop athletes can experience after leaving the water, and why cold water can place significant stress on the heart.

The conversation also looks at whether athletes can truly acclimatize to cold, how to prepare for extreme events like Norseman, and what more than a decade of research at one of the world's toughest triathlons is teaching us about making endurance sport safer.

Today’s speakers:

Prof Paul Laursen https://www.paullaursen.com/

Dr Jørgen Melau

https://www.melau.no/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmelau/

https://jorgenmelau.substack.com/