June 2025 ‘Event Swimming’
Outdoor Swimmer Extra: Get the best of Outdoor Swimmer magazine online.
There was a time, not that long ago, where event swimming was the only safe or realistic way to be able to swim in a certain location or complete a certain distance. Open, wild or outdoor swimming locations seemed limited, or we were told unsafe for casual swimmers. If you fancied a long-distance swimming challenge, the best option was to enter an event with a mass of other swimmers.
Today, with an increase in popularity of outdoor swimming, being able to slip into a river and possibly swim 10k with a tow float for visibility and storage of snacks is both a freedom and a joy, but there is still good reason to take part in an open water event.
This month, we dive into the event swimming world featuring swimmers who have conquered channels, completed distances and overcome personal challenge to grab a medal. If you have wondered about dipping a toe into a swimming event, this issue is set to inspire and motivate you. Many of the swimming events I have taken part in over the years have shaped my overall swimming experience. Training, preparing and taking part in events has taught me a lot about myself and what is possible as well as giving me the experience and technique to tackle all sorts of conditions and distances in the water.
People are drawn to swimming events and endurance challenges for several reasons. Events can enable social bonding, help with personal identify and individual growth. Choosing to train and complete a task fosters a sense of control and self-direction when the rest of the world can feel chaotic. Being part of a collective challenge can also tackle loneliness and our need for connection. Planting your feet firmly on the ground at the end of a swim event can have a huge, positive impact on our self-image, resilience and strength. On top of all this, you often get to swim in places that are otherwise difficult to get to or unsafe to swim solo.
Inspired? Check out our Events Guide and sign up to an event today.
Enjoy this month’s issue!
Ella Foote, Editor
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- Outdoor swimming kit we love this summer
A plant-based protein shake formulated specifically for women, a backpack that doubles as a tow float and a fully immersible sling bag: read on for our round up of the best pieces of outdoor swimming kit we’ve tried, tested and loved this summer - Champion of the waterways: endurance swimmer Oly Rush
Environmentalist has three big swims under his belt – a 100-mile Jurassic Coast swim, a circumnaviation of the Isle of Wight and the fastest circumnavigation of Grand Cayman in the Caribbean, raising awareness of plastic pollution in our oceans - Swim coach Paul Eaglestone’s winning formula
Coach Paul Eaglestone has put his winning formula into print. His new book Free Speed is out now – we find out why readers will love it. - How to pack for swim travel
Your swim travel essentials – and how to carry them – as recommended by the Outdoor Swimmer team - My swim story: Luke Richards
From sinking to swimming, reader Luke Richards learns how to go the distance - Could you recognise blue-green algae?
Warm weather, more sunlight and nutrient-rich waters create ideal conditions for blue-green algae to thrive. Would you know what to look out for in your local swimming spot? - Feral and free at Fritton Lake
Every swimmer loves a hotel with a pool, but Fritton Lake offers so much more for open water enthusiasts, Ella Foote discovers more - The best outdoor saunas in Britain
As saunas pop up alongside beaches, rivers and lakes across the UK, author Emma O’Kelly chooses 10 of her favourite locations from her new guide book for swimmers looking to balance cold dips with a dose of heat - Monsters and the unknown
Mental Health Swims Community Engagement Manager Sarah Groves updates us as she finishes week 12 of training in preparation for end-to-end Windermere swim - Swimming around the world
Simon Griffiths shares how to make the most of your next swim abroad. - Great River Swim, Ireland
Simon Griffiths swam 12km down the River Shannon with Gaelforce Events - “How do I fit swim training around my busy work schedule?”
Swim coach Cassie Patten has great advice for a busy paramedic who has signed up for a 15km swim - Embrace positive psychology
Positive Psychology Practitioner Lexi Tinkler is your guide to how to transform your mindset for event day success - What to eat on event day
Whether you’re taking on a shorter swim or a more ambitious distance, carefully consider your pre- and post-swim nutrition, says personal trainer Vivienne Rickman - Best adventure bags for outdoor swimmers
Durable, weatherproof and ready for anything: whatever you’re looking for in a new adventure bag, we’ve got you covered. Read on for our expert guide to wet and dry bags - Plan a midsummer solstice swim
This month why not celebrate midsummer with a sunrise or sunset swim, says Editor Ella Foote, who is also an open water swim coach, swim guide and teacher - Learn to sprint on an endurance swim
Simon Griffiths analyses the value of changing pace on long distance swims - Weekend swim retreat: Ebba, Herefordshire
Digital editor Abi Whyte finds an idyllic swim retreat in the Welsh Borders, just a short drive from the famous book town of Hay on Wye - How to use the pool to taper before that big event
Swim coach Nicola Butler introduces the tapering phase, which gives your body time to fully recover, repair damaged tissues and adapt to the demands of training before event day - June in the open water community
A new swimming lake in Staffordshire joins the NOWCA network and Mental Health Swims heads to Parliament. Stay up to date with our outdoor swimming community news for June 2025. - It starts with a mile
Jharna Kumawat’s first event was a mile in the Serpentine and she’s now training for Ullswater end to end. This month she shares her events story. - All the lidos
Lidos are magical and we want in. Rowan Clarke chats to Jem Collins to find out how we can collect them all. - NetPlus: How fishing nets are turned into swimming shorts
Not all recycling is equal, says Greg Swienton of Bureo, makers of this innovative material created from recycled fishing nets - Supercharge your day of swimming
Nutrition plays a key role in a swimmer’s performance, recovery, and overall health. The Outdoor Swimmer team have been testing Arla dairy products to help them reach their swimming goals. - Main character energy
Rowan Clarke meets elite swimmer, Becca Mann, about her candid new memoir, Outside the Lanes - The main events
Are events still the route into outdoor swimming? Rowan Clarke investigates - Events offer so much more than the chance to race
Simon Griffiths laments the closure of Henley Swim and reminds swimmers why it’s important to keep taking part in events and raising your voice for our precious blue spaces - Finding a zest for life in the Lake District
Digital editor Abi Whyte unwinds and recharges on a spring yoga and swimming retreat on the shores of Windermere - Embracing the challenges
“What if I’m too slow?” “What if I hate it?” Adaptive swimmer Sophie Etheridge explores the self doubts we all have entering our first swim events
