FEATURES

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

A tale of two bridges, too much chocolate and pacing strategy

A few days before it took place, Jeremy Laming from Henley Swim asked me if I would be a pace…
Competitive, moi?

Patricia Filteau is a recreational long distance open water swimmer and writer, living in Ottawa, Canada. She swims at Meech…
Trends in open water swimming

With our Feb/Mar 2015 Issue we marked four years of publishing H2Open Magazine. So what changes have we seen in…
Sea monsters and giant ants

My friend always says that there are two types of events in life – good experiences and good stories. This…
Protecting the whales of New York

Last August, Patricia Sener was amazed to watch humpback whales feeding and playing within sight of the Empire State Building.…
Open water racing & pacing

Last week we posted a question about open water racing and pacing on our Facebook page: “Someone who you think…
Why our choice of words matters to our fellow swimmers

I was reminded this week about the importance of being careful with language and how the way we use words…
End of season doldrums

I was in a serious doldrums last week. I don’t mean ‘The Doctor when he saw Capaldi’s eyebrows’ kind of…
Saying au revoir to my wetsuit

“Do you ever want to swim the Channel?” It is a question I often get asked, and up until the…
Malta Gozo Malta swim

Last Saturday, I participated in the Malta Gozo Malta 11km swim organised by the Birkirkara Saint Joseph Club together with…
My first ever open water swim

My heart pounded, my mind froze and my primal instinct took over. It had been the moment I had been…
Breaststroke sometimes really is best

When I travel around the UK, and I think I might have time for a swim, I like to take…
Famous five get ready for Best Fest

My name is Mel Berry and I am a former national age group swimmer. While living in Dubai I took…
The advantages of not having been an international swimmer

Last weekend swimming legend Grant Hackett took part in the Australian nationals in Sydney. He’s 34 and it was his…
Collecting medals at the 10th Russian Winter Swimming Championships

As if swimming 1km in 0.8 degree water wasn’t enough, Rory Fitzgerald decided to linger in Murmansk a further two…
Rory Fitzgerald chills out at the first World Ice Swimming Championships

Rory Fitzgerald has just returned from Russia where, on 20 March 2015, he took part in the first World Ice…
Why business competitions are like swimming events

You might have noticed we entered a business competition. I hope you didn’t feel we sent you too many messages…
How to keep your New Year resolutions

Let’s assume you made some New Year resolutions and one or more of those involved swimming. (If you didn’t, here…
How to pass yourself off as an Olympic swimmer

Last Saturday night I watched the film Wild with my friend Andy. If you haven’t seen it, Reese Witherspoon escapes…
Taking on the Rottnest Channel Swim

There were four of us – Pippa Robertson, Michael Mellows, Lachie Kerr and myself – looking to take on the…
The truth about open water swimmers

Thanks to Katia Vastia & Phil Nobes for the use of his picture
First anniversary blog

Today is my one year anniversary with H2Open. To celebrate 12 months of blogging, I’m writing a blog about writing…
Tips for swimming training in public pools – infographic
A chance for regular swimmers to compete under FINA regulations

Anyone who has been through the British swimming club system will be familiar with the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA), the…
Tips for masters swimming galas

Last weekend I took part in a masters swimming gala at Bracknell – my first in about four years. It…