EMPEROR DRAGONFLY

Editor’s letter

After months of not swimming, if you are anything like

Reader Photo Contest

in association with SwimQuest Holidays

DESPITE BEING ALLOWED TO RE-OPEN SINCE 11 JULY, MANY LIDOS WILL REMAIN CLOSED - SOME INDEFINITELY

Despite the news that outdoor pools in England were

NEWS IN BRIEF

English Channel swimming resumed in July after the

MASS OPEN WATER SWIMMING EVENTS TO RESUME?

In what we think was the first post-lockdown mass participation

Things to do in August

Now that lidos and outdoor pools are open, it is important

ART OF SWIMMING

An English Girl, some Spanish waves and a Cornish beach by Emily Stevens

Chudleigh Community Swimming Pool

We live in strange times, not least when it comes to

END SEWAGE POLLUTION IN THE THAMES: OXFORD FLOATING PROTEST

We chat with PhD Ecology Researcher Claire Robertson about the Oxford Floating Protest, a peaceful demonstration being held on Saturday 8 August to raise awareness and demand action against raw sewage pollution in the River Thames.

Write in… Have your say

I was swimming with a small group of people a few weeks

# SWIMWILDANDFREE

Share your photos on Instagram with the hashtag #swimwildandfree

VIEW FROM THE WATER

Simon Griffiths suggests putting diving boards on the river to offer youngsters an alternative to jumping from bridges

Swim Lakeside

Lakeside Shopping Centre is not known for swimming. But that is about to change with the opening of a new swim venue, finds Joanne Jones

THE WORLD IN MINIATURE

Author and journalist Christopher Beanland celebrates outdoor swimming pools across the world in his new book, Lido. Ella Foote dips in to discover more

Life through a lens

Photographer Jay Patel turns the lens on himself for a personal project about his experience with the water. Ella Foote finds out more

Venues Directory

Supervised and commercially operated outdoor swimming venues

OUTDOOR SWIMMER FAMILY

Outdoor Swimmer is the only printed publication in

Patron Page

Thank you to the following individuals who have joined the Outdoor Swimmer Family as Patrons and Super Patrons

The loneliness of the black long distance swimmer

Charles Chapman elevated the profile of black swimmers in open water.

Swimming for two

Pregnancy and lockdown left Nicola Kelly landlocked with an urge for wild waters

THE END OF AN ERA

Cassie Patten on the injury that put paid to her London 2012 dreams and new beginnings post-retirement

OPEN WATER CHECKLIST

Go back to basics and check your breathing, head position and rotation before getting back to swimming this summer

FROM POOL TO POD

2020 has been a challenging time for pool swimmers and swimming clubs and as a result, the team at 100% Swimming developed programmes for junior, masters and triathlete swimmers. Coach Paul Fowler shares his experience.

CHANNEL SWIMCHALLENGES: ADAPTING TO THE NEW NORMAL

Sport psychologist Helen Davis finds out how The King’s Swimmers are adapting English Channel training to maintain motivation in uncertain times

HOW LOCKDOWN COULD MAKE YOU A BETTER SWIMMER

Swim coach Ray Gibbs from Swim Canary Wharf and Alice Todd from SwimQuest Holidays discuss the benefits of a break from swimming over lockdown

Cooking without heat

Three recipes to try - without using heat - made from ingredients foraged from your local swim spot. Luke Chamberlain experiments…

GET YOUR SWIM ON THIS SUMMER?

It’s finally arrived! Summer’s here, and with it travel

The Quiet Places

With foreign holidays still in the balance, now is the time to explore some of the UK’s lesser known swim spots. By SwimTrek founder Simon Murie

Return to Racing

Ötillö Engadin is first major post-Covid swimrun

Head for the Hills

Hills are almost always part of swimrun. Jude Palmer looks at how to take them in your stride

Safe Decision- Making in The Wild

Mike Alexander looks at how heuristics can cause us to make poor decisions - and how to avoid them

AS KEEN AS MUSTARD

Simon Griffiths caught up with Chelsey Bailey - one half of the mother and daughter team behind the UK Grassroots Swimrun Series

Share the passion, inspire your friends

Now is the time for outdoor swimmers to help support both fellow swimmers and our broader community