News
News from the world of outdoor swimming. Stay updated with stories and events that matter to the swim community.
- Participants wanted for a study on how people who have experienced psychosis experience outdoor swimming
Are you an outdoor swimmer who has lived experience of psychosis? - London Assembly launches Swimmable Rivers report
On Friday, 19 September, Zack Polanski and other members of the London Assembly Environment Committee gathered by the Thames in Ham to launch their report “Swimmable rivers: Towards clean and healthy waterways in London” - The campaigning mermaid: Lindsey Cole
This month, ‘mermaid’ Lindsey Cole is attempting to break the Guinness World Record for longest distance swum using a mono fin as part of her ongoing campaign for cleaner waterways - Endurance swimming and activism: a towpath perspective on the Thames Relay
Between the 1st and 4th of September, 2025, a team of world-class swimmers swam a non-stop relay down the River Thames, covering more than 200 km in 3 days. Lucy Young witnessed them finishing the non-tidal section at Teddington Lock, where they had a brief break to wait for the tide. - Elite athletes are swimming length of River Thames demanding action on the sewage crisis
Eight world-class and Olympic swimmers representing the UK’s four nations are swimming 200km in relay from the source of the River Thames, arriving at Parliament on 4 September - Blind Ambition: watch Gerrard Gosens’ incredible story
In July, blind athlete Gerrard Gosens attempted to swim the 20 Bridges circumnavigation of Manhattan Island and the English Channel in the same month. A new film, Blind Ambition, charts his remarkable challenge. - How I became the first woman to swim from Red Sands Forts
My journey and introduction to outdoor swimming started in 2018 after I had a harebrained idea: I wanted to swim the Channel! I had no previous open water experience. My pool swimming was self-taught, with no history of club swimming or any coaching… - September in the open water community
Nowca reveals a new swimming venue in the Worcestershire countryside, and Mental Health Swims share why autumn is the ideal time to join a local swim group - Call for ‘swim-along’ interviews with Thames swimmers
Do you swim in the River Thames? Take part in an exciting research project exploring swimming communities along England’s longest river. - Sidney Russell completes Catalina double
Sidney Russell is a busy mum, swim coach and swim volunteer – yet she still finds time to train for big solo swims. We wanted to know how she does it all. - Bárbara Hernández completes historic English Channel double
Known for both her cold water and long distance swimming exploits, Bárbara Hernández has completed the longest swim of her career, becoming the first South American woman to swim to France and back again across the English Channel - Three Lakes – Three Countries – One Day
Hector Pardoe completes an epic Three Lakes challenge while raising awareness of water pollution and funds for Surfers Against Sewage