Readers' Swims

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

Ipswich Life Saving Club

Lifesaving awards are a great way for children and adults to learn water safety techniques and first aid, says David…
My Swim Story – Billie Oliver

Swimming outdoors has given Billie Oliver a purpose in life after the death of her daughter My swim story began…
Snow swims!

We asked you to send in your pics of your frosty dips. Here are our favourites! Send in your swim…
My Swim Story – Nikki Ball

Nikki Ball’s family was brought up in the water. After the death of her brother, a family wild swimming trip…
We did it! We swam the length of Lake Windermere!

Finally, after two cafe stops for coffee and scones (it’s not even a two hour drive), Shark and I arrive…
Taking on the Loch Ness monster

Next week Team Nessie (me, Marc, Alaine, Emma, Rebecca and Erica) is swimming the 22-mile length of Loch Ness in…
My Swim Story – Maurice Walton

Maurice Walton shares his experience to serve as a warning to other swimmers We were swimming in Windermere from Fell…
You’re gonna need a bigger boat!

The last 20 weeks have been non-stop swimming/training/ driving to venues, and so with one week to go till my…
Glow Swimming: a new way to experience open water

As a triathlete, at most events I’m given the same things on registration. Swim hat, timing chip, race numbers and…
Cross-country runner to open water swimmer

After injury forced my reluctant retirement from athletics after 40 years – the last 17 of them as an international…
In the wake of Mercedes Gleitze

I grew up on the Causeway coast of Ireland in a little seaside town called Portstewart. I am now 33, a…
Always try to say yes (to open water swimming)

Tel Aviv, Yaron Davidi and Frank Turner’s wisdom I love music; it’s nearly as important to me as swimming. A…
Jim Boucher’s 2012 Ederle Swim

Regular long distance swim Jim Boucher sent us this report of his recent swim from the southern tip of Manhattan…
Aspire Manx Minkes Channel Swim

Jill Bunyan recently completed an English Channel relay crossing raising an impressive £17,000 for Aspire, the spinal cord injury charity,…
Fighting swim in Firth of Forth

A handful of swimmers, mostly with connections to British Gas, decided to tackle one of the UK’s most famous estuaries…
One Foot in the Wave – oldest English Channel relay

Michael Jennings, an English Channel swimmer in 1960, just doesn’t know when to give up. Now 74 years young he…
The Gladiator’s world swimming tour

Becoming an English Channel swimmer is tough, as we discovered in Oct / Nov 2011 issue of H2Open. For Thomas Noblett…
Crossing long island sound

Bruce Olinder shares a family open water swimming tale from Long Island Sound Did you ever stand on the shore…
Brian Kinsella’s perfect day

In all my 54 years I have never been a good swimmer: out of breath after 2 lengths of a…
Mark Robson tackles Windermere

Lake Windermere features highly on many aspiring Channel Swimmer’s training to do lists but at 10.5 miles long it is…
Southend to All Hallows to Leigh on Sea

It started one spring day in Leigh on Sea as an idle bet over a pint with a couple of…
Matt Baker – Henley to Marlow solo

Two months after the official Henley Swim Bridge to Bridge event, I swam the same 14.1km course between the landmark…
Chris Smith – Escaping Alcatraz

Chris Smith only learnt to swim at the age of 46, at a time where a spinal injury prevented him…
A 10km Dart Adventure by Simon James

A couple of years ago I joined the Outdoor Swimming Society after reading a book called Wild Swim by Kate…
I loved every single stroke – Part 2 (The Swim – Windermere two-way)

For Part 1 (training) – see here.On 6 August 2013, the day before my swim, I met my guide for the…