As the official training partner of Vansbrosimningen, OpenSwim works with swimmers preparing for one of the world’s most iconic open-water events — from first-time participants to experienced endurance athletes.
Jesper Holmberg one of the first users of OpenSwim training app, sits firmly in the second category.
He has completed the original Vansbro 3K eight times and the demanding Vansbro 10K six times. And in 2022, he accidentally entered the recreational class instead of the competition field for the 10K… before still posting the fastest overall time of the day.
Yes, really.
“I accidentally signed up for the recreational class…”
There are race wins. And then there are stories that instantly become race folklore.
“In 2022, I accidentally signed up for the recreational class instead of the competition class for Vansbro 10K,” he says. “And I still ended up with the fastest overall time.”
The best part?
“What surprised me most was that I actually had the fastest time overall.”
That mix of humility and disbelief perfectly captures the spirit of Vansbro — an event where even experienced swimmers know the river can humble anyone.
The real challenge isn’t swimming — it’s the cold
If you’ve never done Vansbro, there’s one thing veterans mention over and over again: the water.
Not the distance. Not the crowds. The cold.
“What I wish I’d known before my first race is how much the cold water affects your body, even if you’re a strong swimmer.”
It’s a warning beginners often underestimate.
“People think you need to be an elite swimmer to complete it. That’s a myth,” he says. “Consistency and preparation matter more.”
And preparation, according to him, starts with respecting the conditions.
“Beginners often underestimate the cold water and the preparation needed.”
The moment the race really begins
For him, the toughest part of the 10K comes long after the excitement of the start fades.
“Around the 7 km mark, I sometimes hit an energy dip,” he explains. “Taking a gel or two at the last energy station usually gives me enough boost to push through the final stretch.”
That’s where experience shows itself — not in perfect pacing, but in staying calm when the body starts bargaining with you.
He says nutrition mattered far more than expected.
“Staying mentally calm and fueling properly makes a huge difference in colder waters and the longer distances.”
It’s a lesson he learned through repetition, adaptation, and a lot of hours in open water.
“You can keep going longer than you think”
One of the most striking things about endurance events is how they quietly reshape your understanding of your own limits.
For him, Vansbro became exactly that.
“I learned that I can keep going much longer than I think with a steady pace.”
The 10K was his first true long-distance race. Since then, he’s completed multiple 10K events — and even longer races beyond that.
That progression started with a simple realization: endurance is rarely explosive. It’s patient.
The atmosphere keeps people coming back
Ask veterans why they return to Vansbro year after year and you’ll rarely hear them talk about medals.
Instead, they talk about the atmosphere.
“The people, the atmosphere, and how smooth and enjoyable the calm river water feels to swim in,” he says. “That’s why everyone should do it at least once.”
And perhaps his best summary of the event came when we asked him to finish one sentence:
“Vansbro is not really about swimming, it’s about… enjoying the experience.”
That might sound simple. But after eight 3Ks and six 10Ks, it carries weight.
Quick Hits from a Vansbro Veteran
Top 3 survival tips
- Don’t start too fast
- Stay calm if it gets crowded and try to find clear water
- Actually enjoy the experience
Hardest kilometres?
- Final kilometre of the 3K
- Seventh kilometre of the 10K
Wetsuit: essential or overrated?
“Normally a bit overrated. But at Vansbro? Definitely essential because of the cold water.”
Coffee or carb-load?
Carb-load.
Favourite post-swim food?
“A nice burger.”
One thing he’d change next time
“Spend a little more time practicing nutrition during long training sessions.”
Final takeaway
You don’t complete Vansbro fourteen times because you enjoy suffering.
You do it because somewhere between the cold water, the crowds, the fatigue, and the final stretch, the race gives something back.
Maybe that’s why people keep returning to the river year after year.
Not to prove they’re swimmers.
But to remind themselves what they’re capable of.