CHALLENGE

Ambitious challenges conquered by outdoor swimmers.

The Festive Dip List 2023

What better way to clear your head after Christmas than to run full pelt into the sea? Plan your swim…
Announcing The Really Cold Swim Championships

Are you up for some really cold swimming this winter? Check out this new cold water swimming event, a joint…
Ultraswim 33.3 #2 Montenegro 2023

Part race, part holiday, part endurance challenge and one unforgettable adventure. Simon Griffiths reveals what it was like taking part…
My fastest skins swim of the 3 Lakes Challenge

Helen Hislop shares her story of becoming the fastest skins swimmer to swim Coniston, Ullswater and Windermere consecutively, with a…
Ultraswim33.3: “We’ve got the formula right”

Fresh from Ultraswim33.3 #2Montenegro, Mark Turner tells us about this multi-day swimming event that's fast becoming a highlight on the…
Our oldest mixed relay across the English Channel

David Rock and his swim buddies tell us about their record-breaking (pending ratification) oldest mixed 4-person relay across the Channel,…
Unsinkable: Alan Corcoran’s swim of the length of Ireland

Alan Corcoran swam the length of Ireland in memory of his father. He spoke to Jonathan Cowie about his experience.
What does it take to swim an ice mile?

If you’ve ever seen a swimmer at the end of their ice mile, you’ll appreciate what an incredible feat of…
“I learnt to swim from scratch then took on an English Channel relay”

Hafsa Mughal went from complete beginner to English Channel relay swimmer, all in the space of five months. Now an…
UltraSwim33.3 makes a splash in Montenegro

Today marked the first day of UltraSwim33.3, a brand new swimming event that has attracted 120 athletes from 23 countries…
Event Review: Dock2Dock – London Royal Docks

Readers Pim Kalisvaart and Nicky Rough share their experience of swimming Dock2Dock, a London event that offers open water swims…
A record-setting relay in Windermere

Niamh Lewis reports on a Windermere relay beset by challenges, including a broken down support boat.
Jessika Robson becomes youngest person to swim the North Channel

At just 17-years old, Jessika Robson has become the youngest person to swim the North Channel (pending ratification), with a…
My Dart 10K swim

Carine Evans shares her experience of taking part in an iconic swimming event, the Dart 10K in beautiful Devon.
The Black Tri Tribe: an environment to thrive

Ahead of their London Triathlon on Sunday 10 September, we spoke to the Black Tri Tribe's founder Kelly Smith about…
Messing about on the river: an event review of the Thames Marathon

Ben Lane reports on his 13km swim in the infamous Thames Marathon, where "a good mindset, a certain level of…
Tricks of the mind: swimming in the Faroe Islands

Ben Lane undertook a magnificent swim in the Faroe Islands. Here he shares the mental and physical challenges of exploring…
How to complete the Great North Swim and Swimrun

Pick the right distance, plan your nutrition, be confident in your kit and pace yourself. Simon Griffiths shares insight from…
All the Lakes Without a Break

Outdoor Swimmer catches up with Matt Dawson after he set a new record in the Lake District
Join in The Big Swim with Team GB Olympic swimmer Alice Dearing

On Wednesday 26 July, Olympic long distance swimmer Alice Dearing will be launching The Big Swim challenge in partnership with…
Getting the Henley high

An event for newbies, elite swimmers or the simply curious. Digital Journalist Jo Tinsley reports back on this year’s Outdoor…
The Barbados Open Water Festival is back

Swim in the crystal clear Caribbean Sea at the The Barbados Open Water Festival, returning 8-12 November 2023.
Registration opens for 2023 Swim Serpentine

At noon on Thursday 8 June, 2023 Swim Serpentine opened for registration and within two hours, spaces had almost all…
No training? No worries! Six ways to make the most of an event when you’re unfit

If you’re wavering about signing up for an event because of worries about your fitness, whether it’s your first mile…
Why do an open water event?

Do I have to be a fast swimmer? Do I need to swim front crawl? Will I get pushed under…