FEATURES

In-depth features that celebrate the vibrant outdoor swimming community, spotlighting extraordinary individuals and their stories.

Red Bull New Year, New Challenge

Want To Tackle The World’s Toughest Uphill Open Water Swim? This January, Red Bull’s New Year, New Challenge is a…
6 Tips for Cold Water Swimming

Since lockdown restrictions eased, I’ve noticed a new wave of open water swimmers taking to our rivers, seas and lakes.…
Of strongmen and stunt swimming: a history of alternative swimming achievements

Isn’t a marathon swim hard enough without towing trees, boats full of people, or swimming while shackled? In October 2018,…
Tarn Baggers

In the 1950s, Colin Dodgson and Timothy Tyson swam in every tarn in the Lake District. Richard Nelsson recounts the…
Chairman of the Rivers – The Strange Swimming History of Mao Zedong

A life-long swimmer, Mao Zedong used his athletic achievements for political gain. By Elaine K Howley Born to a wealthy…
Remembering Charles Sprawson

I was saddened to hear the news that Charles Sprawson passed this week. His book, Haunts of the Black Masseur:…
8 tips for working from home

Here at Outdoor Swimmer we are experts at working from home. You might imagine that we have a big office…
From nervous swimmer to 70.3 World Champion, at age 70

Linda Spillane shares her story of how, starting from only being able to swim two lengths of her local pool,…
How has the pandemic affected open water swimming venues?

The combination of pool closures and a hot summer has seen demand boom for swimming at safe, supervised venues The combination…
What makes people want to plunge themselves into cold water?

John Weller and Lola Culsán meet swimmers at the ponds on Hampstead Heath What makes people want to routinely plunge…
The loneliness of the black long distance swimmer

On 25 August 1981, Charles Chapman, AKA Charlie the Tuna, became the first black swimmer to complete a solo crossing…
Swimming with your dog – safety advice and kit suggestion

The Red Original Dog Buoyancy Aid is a great option for keeping your dog safe during water-based activities. You love…
Swimming while black: stories from the community

We love to say that open water swimming is for all. But is that aspirational rather than a statement of…
How to train for mental fitness

Top athletes know that better begins in your mind, and that performing at your best in sport all depends on…
Why I’m not swimming right now: the temptation is real, but the risk is as well

“Hi. My name is Elaine, and it’s been 66 days since my last swim.” That last swim was a 25…
Tales from lockdown: how has Covid-19 impacted the world of outdoor swimming?

As coronavirus forces the closure of the world’s open waters, the outdoor swimming community waits patiently for its return. In…
Making history in the English Channel

How Sam Penny, a 46-year-old Australian civil engineer turned cheesemaker, became the first person in history to attempt a winter…
What happens to your body when you enter cold water?

The social, physical and mental health benefits of cold water swimming are well known, but what happens to your body,…
“When I turn up to a pool I just see myself as a swimmer.” Team GB’s Alice Dearing’s on racism in swimming

It is only at the end of our conversation that Alice Dearing mentions that she has never been wild swimming.…
The Burkini Line

The history of the burkini and its role in empowering Muslim women to take to the open water
Out to swim: The transgender woman who found her tribe in outdoor swimming

Transgender swimmer Eden Elgeti has found her tribe in outdoor swimming “I was a bit nervous when I first starting…
A swimmer’s perspective on the City of London Corporation’s proposals for Hampstead Heath ponds

Nicola Mayhew, Co-chair of the Hampstead Heath Ladies’ Pond, gives her opinion on the City of London’s proposals to adopt…
5 historic indoor swimming pools in the UK

It’s still winter, which means it still too cold to convince some swimmers to venture out for a wild or…
Cold water swimming advice from an Ice Mile expert

In a few weeks, Outdoor Swimmer’s very own English channel soloist and ice kilometre challenger, Joanne, will be heading to…
Swimming against the stream

Why swimming upriver slows you down so much, and what to do about it