Opinion
Thought-provoking perspectives and viewpoints on various swimming-related subjects, igniting conversations within the swim community.
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Why you Should Keep Your Event Mementos
They are much more than clutter and dust collectors Last weekend I was hoping to swim at an event in…
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Why you need to think beyond the thermometer
As outdoor water temperatures rise, it’s tempting to swim further and stay in longer. Simon shares his recent experience that…
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Does the Sewage Scandal have a silver lining?
Worried about swimming in light of the Sewage Scandal? How to use newly available data to swim with confidence.
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Water temperature: when warm is cold
One swimmer's warm will be another swimmer's cold. Simon Griffiths on the danger of speaking subjectively when it comes to…
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Why must we keep on swimming in rivers?
River swimming has never been more topical - or more important. We asked Rebecca Duncan from the Rivers Trust why…
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Ready for departure
Travelling by air can be an daunting prospect for a wheelchair user. Adaptive swimmer Sophie Etheridge shares her recent experiences.
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Why it isn’t necessarily a failure if you don’t complete your swim
We should be more thoughtful and less judgemental about failure in open water swimming. We need to consider the long-term…
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A swimmer’s perspective of the city
City swimming can be a thrilling experience, as demonstrated by the epic swims in the Seine in Paris this summer.
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Swim safe, swim without your ego
Often the most dangerous thing about our swimming is ourselves. Ella Foote changes her approach to long-distance swimming.
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How do I decide if I should swim in the Thames?
Simon Griffiths explains how he looks at pollution risk before swimming
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Why swimming faster might not make you happier
Focusing purely on speed can sap the joy from your swimming. To ensure swimming continues to make you happy, embrace…
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Why I swim at Shepperton Open Water Swimming
Shepperton Open Water Swimming is a precious jewel but it’s under threat of closure. We’re working hard to preserve it.
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How to fall in love with swimming
If you want to be a lifelong swimmer, it’s a big help if you love swimming. That might sound obvious,…
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Lido guide: Stand up and be counted
Despite the positive impact a local lido can have on its wider community, outdoor pools continue to struggle due to…
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A year without social media
Jonathan Cowie reflects on his year of giving up social media, and how it has simplified yet enriched his life.
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Don’t miss out on the joys of outdoor swimming because of sewage pollution
Sewage pollution is a scandal but it doesn’t mean the end of wild swimming
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Interview with Olympic swimmer Hector Pardoe
Olympic Marathon Swimmer Hector Pardoe tells us what happened in Tokyo and how elite open water swimming could be made…
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Beaches need to be more accessible
Adaptive swimmer Sophie Etheridge explains why everyone needs a dose of Vitamin Sea, but this isn't always easy for wheelchair…
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Unexpected conflicts over water water use
Simon Griffiths reflects on how water projects can have unintended consequences.
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Retaining the joy of swim training
Simon Griffiths on prioritising the process of swim training, rather than the end goal of completing a challenge.
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Giving up social media
Would you benefit from a digital detox? Contributing editor Jonathan Cowie reflects on six months of being completely social media…
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How the cost of living crisis has affected your swimming
In our Attitudes to Outdoor Swimming survey, almost one in three swimmers say the cost of the living crisis has…
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The “bash-wild-swimming” genre is already getting boring
Wild swimming has become a target of those who make a living mocking people and topics they know little about.…
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Ice swimmer beaten by a flight of stairs
In the morning, adaptive athlete Sophie Etheridge took her first ever ice swim, posing with the obligatory ‘holding a piece…
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No one’s impressed by your abuse of swimmers
Giles Coren and the Times have stooped too low in their search for eyeballs Initially, I was going to ignore…