Man queues for 12 hours to be first to jump into Helsinki’s outdoor pool

Markku Eklund, 60, secured his 45th first-place dive at the opening of Helsinki Swimming Stadium on Sunday, after arriving the previous evening and waiting overnight.

The Helsinki Swimming Stadium opened at 9 AM on Mother’s Day, drawing a line of eager swimmers—including Eklund, who had camped outside since 9 PM the night before. Speaking to Finnish broadcaster Yle, he described watching the stars and a passing fox while wrapped in his sleeping bag.

Now in his sixth decade, Eklund has claimed the title of first swimmer at the seasonal opening “dozens of times” over nearly half a century. “There’s no real logic to it,” he admitted. “I started when I was 15—back then, friends joined me, but they’ve all grown up since.”

Jukka Teräsvirta, a longtime rival who has finished second in past years, called the early-morning plunge “freezing but absolutely worth it for the atmosphere.”

The stadium, which attracts around 300,000 visitors each summer, will remain open until September 10. Eklund, an Espoo resident, has missed only a handful of openings in his 45-year streak.