FEATURES
In-depth features that celebrate the vibrant outdoor swimming community, spotlighting extraordinary individuals and their stories.
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Beyond the Breakers: bringing the Marathon Swimming community together
Outdoor Swimmer speaks with Craig Lewin, marathon swimmer, coach and organiser of the Beyond the Breakers conference
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Plunge into ice swimming competition
Ice swimming is no longer a niche pursuit reserved for polar adventurers. Across the UK, swimmers are bridging the gap…
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Meet Libby Delana, author of Cold Joy
Libby DeLana illuminates the many physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of cold water in her new book, Cold Joy
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Refuge in the cold
Filmmaker Judy Irving tells Rowan Clarke how cold water provides refuge from life’s biggest challenges
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Beyond the chill
Rowan Clarke takes a deep dive into the little-known facts about wild winter swimming
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Fast, exhilarating and a little scary: a winter swoosh
Simon Griffiths explores how winter puts the wild into river swimming
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How to set a world swimming record
In September 2025, George Taplin smashed the record for a wetsuit swim of the length of Windermere. We asked him…
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Pizza, pasta and plunges
According to Harper’s Bazaar, Lake Orta is the new Lake Como for those who want a taste of the Italian…
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Lake Windermere complete!
Mental Health Swims Community Engagement Manager Sarah Groves has conquered the length of Lake Windermere. She shares her final report.
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Want a healthy brain? Develop your swim skills!
Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi reveals how developing new skills in swimming does wonders for your mental health, memory and your brain's…
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Ankle mobility for swimmers
Building ankle strength and flexibility can literally propel your swimming technique, supporting a more effective kick, says personal trainer Liz…
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No comparisons
While Jharna Kumawat’s love of cold water swimming grew organically, her swim development only really began after her Channel relay…
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A deep dive into menopause
Did you know October is Menopause Awareness Month? Wondering why we need such an event? Swimmer and holistic practitioner Louise…
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Manacled men
A recent record event builds on the lengthy history of swimming while handcuffed.
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Urban crawl: going the distance at Dock2Dock
Rowan Clarke and Ella Foote took to London’s historic docks for an epic swim
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Gym swim training: a beginner’s guide
When starting out, the goal is less about heavy lifting or complicated exercises and more about building a solid base…
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October in the open water community
Mental Health Swims announces new Swim Together partnerships and NOWCA reveals how anyone can start their open water journey at…
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Building skills for long-distance swimming
Simon Griffiths suggests skills to master at each stage of your swimming journey
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Winter swimming preparation
"You only need one wild swim a week to acclimatise to the dropping temperatures," says editor Ella Foote
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Fin-tastic mermaid in the making
Developments in swimming has also enabled creativity and fun to thrive. Ella Foote pulls on a mermaid tail and monofin…
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The real cost of swimming
As the popularity of outdoor swimming increases, so does the number of places where you have to pay to swim.…
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Go Overboard: a swim for Ionian conservation
Digital editor Abi Whyte – with her mum for company – headed to ‘the Emerald Isle’ of Greece for a…
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Deep water
Siana Bangura tells Rowan Clarke how she uses water to reflect the complexities of being human
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How to have your best winter swimming season yet
How can you make the most of the winter swimming season? We ask Rebecca Wetten, Head Coach at Catch about…
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Advocating for change
It doesn’t take much to accommodate those with disabilities at events, says adaptive swimmer Sophie Etheridge
