Readers' Swims

Immerse yourself in fellow swimmers' personal narratives, sharing their swimming stories and memorable experiences.

Swimming in Lake Malawi National Park

Lake Malawi – the world’s ninth largest lake covering an area larger than Wales – is where Dennis Lupenga learnt to…
Swimming the Lakes – as fast as possible

Matt Dawson wants to swim the 13 publicly accessible lakes of the Lake District in a record time Outdoor Swimmer:…
In Memoriam: Jody Jones

On Monday, 7 November, swimmer Jody Jones died from bowel cancer. Friend and swimmer, Mark Johansen honours his dear friend.
Learning to breathe above water

Natasha Longridge is a photographer from Belfast, Northern Ireland, who suffers from hypochondria. In 2020 she discovered the benefits of…
Create your own challenges

Not all challenges are to enter, or to follow, some are created ourselves. Alison Gilchrist set herself a series of…
This is my Alaska

Inspired by a dream holiday in Alaska and a jubilant dip in Ullswater, reader Magdalena Maklakiewicz-Evans decided to start her…
Frostbite Challenge: 12 outdoor swims over winter

School Chaplain Sami Watts shares her journey to open water swimming and her experience of taking on the Frostbite Challenge:…
Highgate Men’s Pond: “A space to open up”

Jack Dunne's photography series Faces and Spaces explores communities and the individuals who are part of them. We spoke to…
A cross-country swim along St Patrick’s Stream

Lose yourself in nature on this sleepy spur of the Thames. Paul Mackenzie from Adventure Swims pioneers a cross-country swimming…
A year of full moon swimming

When a bout of Covid left her unable to celebrate her 40th birthday on New Year's Eve, Menna Jones decided…
Ice Mile Extreme

After a three-year delay Becca Harvey conquered an ice mile swim in Loch Insh, Scotland. A film has documented her…
Swimming 40 lakes in Switzerland

For her 40th birthday, Julia Weber gave herself a gift: a challenge to swim in 40 lakes in Switzerland in…
Andy Spencer completes 365 daily swim challenge in memory of his father

Thames ferry captain Andy Spencer has completed his year-long swimming challenge in memory of his father Francis
“Once in the water, I flow”

Janet MacLeod shares her account of being an older woman swimmer: strong and fearless, solitary and communal, life-long and evolving.
Reflections on 2022: a year of adventures with the Henley Mermaids

Laura Reineke of the Henley Mermaids reflects on an incredible year of swimming adventures, and looks forward to swimming the…
The Cape Recife Lighthouse swim

At the southern entrance to Nelson Mandela Bay, Cape Recife Lighthouse guards one of the most dangerous points along South…
“He asked me to marry him in the pouring rain”

When nurse Amy Bilbrough joined the Sheffield Outdoor Plungers, she didn't expect romance to blossom. She shares her heartwarming story…
It’s all about starting: my training for the double Windermere crossing

In July 2022, Rachael Hunt completed the double Windermere crossing, a total distance of 21 miles. She shares her story…
Jersey to France relay swim

In July, Audrey Burkley joined Sally Minty-Gravett and novice swimmers and breast cancer survivors Anne King and Angela Harvey-Jones on…
Swimming from Korakas to Skala Sikamineas

On 1 October 2022, Jim McAuliffe swam from the lighthouse at Korakas to the fishing village of Skala Sikamineas on…
Phil Warren first to cross the Bristol Channel swimming breaststroke

Earlier this year, Phil Warren set himself the challenge of swimming all four crossings of the Bristol Channel in one…
Seasons of change: from sea swims to cold water dips

Nora Clarke heralds the start of the ‘dipping season’ in Norway with this moving tribute to cold water swimming, and…
The Cross Bay Swim: What Price Glory?

Edward Chessman may be the last person to have crossed the finish line at the Cross Bay Swim, but he…
Will you join Eleanor in her swimming challenge?

Eleanor is looking for people to join her in her swimming challenge – to swim 70 miles before her 70th…
Lake Geneva calls the Crawlers

The Kingsdown Crawlers take on a five-person relay swim in Lake Geneva, completing the 78km length in 26 hours and…