News
Read the latest outdoor swimming news, open water swimming events, wild swimming stories, environmental campaigns, athlete updates and community news from Outdoor Swimmer.
- Olympians set new British relay record in English Channel for RLSS UK
Six British Olympians and elite open water swimmers have smashed the English Channel relay British record, completing the crossing in 6 hours 55 minutes – just three minutes short of the world record – to raise funds for RLSS UK. - 16-year-old completes solo English Channel swim in support of YoungMinds
Hertfordshire teenager Felipe Irvine crosses from Dover to France in 11 hours 20 minutes through Force 4 winds and heavy swell, just months after finishing his GCSEs - A new Dart 10k
You think you’ve swum the Dart10k? Think again. We find out how this iconic open water river swim has been rebuilt. - Three crossings, one challenge: meet the Viking Triple Crown
Inspired by Viking maritime history, the new challenge brings together the English Channel, SwimÖresund and Beltquerung in one ambitious goal for marathon swimmers - London’s cool new pool
Earlier this summer, before the heatwaves and hosepipe bans, Sea Lanes opened a cool new pool tucked into Canary Wharf, fed by underground springs. Ella Foote chats to Operations Director Helen Bull and Marketing Director Harry Smith to find out how London’s newest swimming offer is taking off. - Hector Pardoe completes record swim of Lake Como
Two-time British Olympian, Hector Pardoe, has swum the entire 47.54km length of Lake Como, in a new Record time of 10 hours 41 minutes, knocking over 9 hours off the previously held record set back in 2016. - 19-year-old American Maya Merhige successfully swims the Strait of Gibraltar
Marathon swimmer Maya Merhige aims to be youngest swimmer in the world to complete Oceans Seven while raising funds for cancer research through Swim Across America - Dryrobe® celebrates partnership with RNLI with limited-edition robe
This limited-edition Dryrobe® Nexus commemorates the brand’s partnership with the RNLI and celebrates 25 years of RNLI lifeguard service on UK beaches. £50 from every robe sold will go directly to the charity to support its life-saving work. - WOWSA Awards in partnership with Outdoor Swimmer
Thursday 6 August 2026 is the 100th anniversary of Gertrude Ederle’s swim. It’s also the day nominations open for the 2026 WOWSA Awards. - Around the Isle of Wight: a relay swim like no other
What began as a deeply personal tribute to family became a 21-hour relay around the Isle of Wight. Sami Robertson reflects on the planning, teamwork and emotion behind one of Britain’s most demanding open water swims. - Three films we’re excited to watch at The Ocean Film Festival 2026
The Ocean Film Festival is back, bringing a new collection of captivating ocean-themed films to venues around the UK this autumn - All-women team tackle the English Channel on centenery of first female crossing
One hundred years after Gertrude Ederle became the first woman to swim the English Channel, an all-female relay team is preparing to undertake the crossing