Readers' Swims
Immerse yourself in fellow swimmers' personal narratives, sharing their swimming stories and memorable experiences.
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Like the birds in the sky
In this beautiful ode to cold-water swimming, Canadian reader Glenda Bonne ponders on what draws her and other "like-minded crazy…
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Shared adventures with Go Dipping
Cold-water dipper Sam Dodge tells us about his community hub Go Dipping, where swimmers can meet and encourage each other…
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A swim against suicide
Irish swimmer Ger Moore has swum the length of the River Shannon (250km) to raise awareness and funds for suicide…
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All the Lakes Without a Break
Outdoor Swimmer catches up with Matt Dawson after he set a new record in the Lake District
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Second all-female relay swim across the Bristol Channel
The Langland Sharks, an all-female relay team, swam through the night to complete this challenging crossing between England and Wales.
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“I swam 1km in every Irish county in one weekend”
On 16 June, endurance athlete Damien Wildes embarked on an extraordinary swimming challenge – to swim 1km in each of…
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A swim from Hurst Castle to the Needles
Kate Steels pilots a new swimming challenge, raising an astonishing amount for a cause close to her heart. Rowan Clarke…
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From bucket to bog snorkelling
When Margaret Bell’s swimming instructor told her to blow bubbles into a bucket of water to help with her breathing,…
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Readers’ Swims: Lanzarote to Fuerteventura
Mark Johansen tackled the 16km Bocaina Strait while on holiday
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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…
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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:…
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In Memoriam: Jody Jones
On Monday, 7 November, swimmer Jody Jones died from bowel cancer. Friend and swimmer, Mark Johansen honours his dear friend.
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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…
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Create your own challenges
Not all challenges are to enter, or to follow, some are created ourselves. Alison Gilchrist set herself a series of…
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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…
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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:…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Ice Mile Extreme
After a three-year delay Becca Harvey conquered an ice mile swim in Loch Insh, Scotland. A film has documented her…
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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…
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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
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“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.
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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…
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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…
