Welcome back to the open water, albeit in a slightly more socially distanced way. This issue we find out what you think of the 'new normal' in outdoor swimming, look at how coaching has changed to accommodate social distancing and I give you some tips on how to make the most of your local open water swimming venue.
In the aftermath of the Black Lives Matters protests we look at the barriers to participation in swimming for black people. We speak to writer Jini Reddy on her search for magic in the landscape in her new book Wanderland. And in what would have been our Olympic issue, Cassie Patten reminisces about her bittersweet open water bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics and Elaine Howley explores the history of open water swimming and the history of Games caught in the turmoil of contemporary events.