Welcome to the May issue...

Many readers will know that as well as

SWIM PEOPLE

SWIMTERVIEW • THAMES BATHING • SWIM CULTURE

COACH

WILD & RECREATION • POOL & TECHNIQUE •

Is it a hobby? Therapy? Treatment or is it a lifestyle?

I’ve always swum but through life my love

View from the water

Simon Griffiths looks at why swimming is training for life

LIFESTYLE SWIMMERS

Why is outdoor swimming so much more than a hobby? Rowan Clarke finds out

ON YOUR MARKS

Rowan Clarke finds out how Adam Peaty is helping to instil a positive swimming lifestyle in young swimmers

BATHING SEASON

George Townsend explores the lost swimming places of the Thames Valley

SWIMMING SEEPS INTO BRITISH CULTURE

Ella Foote dives into a new exhibition celebrating swimming, floats through a lecture about faith and learns about the history of private swimming pools. It seems our love of swimming has sent ripples into all corners of art, culture and lifestyle

NULIAJUK’S SWIM

Netflix’s new series, ‘North of North’, brings an Inuit sea goddess to the surface

Swimmable Rivers in London: a bold 10-year vision

The London Assembly Environment Committee has engaged NOWCA

COMMUNITY

Mental Health Awareness Week 2025, running from 12-18

FROM UDAIPUR TO THE UK

New contributor Jharna Kumawat fell in love with open water in India and now swims locally in Essex and Suffolk. This year she is aiming to finally conquer Ullswater end to end after her diabetes impacted her attempt last year. Jharna will be regularly sharing her swim-story with Outdoor Swimmer readers

WILD & RECREATION

Editor Ella Foote is also an open water swim coach, outdoor swim guide and teacher. This month she encourages us to go with the flow when we are in wild water

Sensory swimming

This is what you can see, hear, smell, touch and taste at the water’s edge this month

BST LIDO CHALLENGE

Passionate swimmer Jem Collins has been compiling a

TRAINING POOL & TECHNIQUE

Our new contributing Coach Nicola Butler has passion for the pool and a lifetime of sporting prowess and experience. Nicola will be offering pool and technique skills that can aid your open water swimming

CHALLENGE AND ENDURANCE

Simon Griffiths looks at bringing challenges into your training

Live well, swim well – a holistic approach

Fuelling your workouts, balancing your hormones and getting good quality sleep with all improve your performance, says personal trainer Vivienne Rickman

YOGA HAS YOUR BACK

Building back strength, while working on mobility and flexibility, will help us to feel strong in the water says personal trainer Liz Lowe

What’s up, Doc?

Swim Together: making swimming a part of everyday life

HEALTH

DEODORANT • WHAT’S UP DOC • SKIN HEALTH

Natural deodorants

BODY CARE THAT DOESN’T IMPACT THE WATER

Tried & Tested

Greenpeople Rosemary & Prebiotics Deodorant, 75ml, £14 It

DEEP DIVE Swimmer’s skin

Cancer Research UK reports that melanoma skin cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the UK, accounting for five percent of all new cancer cases. Outdoor swimmers are at high risk for melanoma, sunburn and skin issues so we speak to GP in Community Dermatology, Dr Rebecca Alsop to learn more

SILKY MERMAID

USA based swimmer Molly Nance has done several open water events across the world, attempted a solo English Channel swim and was the first woman to swim across the 21-mile St Lucia Channel. After swimming millions of pool laps her skin started to develop issues, which inspired her to develop her own products to help swimmers with skin problems. Molly shares her story and solutions…

GEAR

WETSUITS • CARING FOR YOUR WETSUIT • KIT WE LOVE

WETSUITS

A super flexible suit for breaststroke swimmers, a thermal suit for the coldest of temperatures and the first colourful open water swimming wetsuit: read on for our guide to the latest wetsuits

CARE FOR YOUR WETSUIT

How to rinse, wash, repair and store your wetsuit so that it lasts for many seasons to come

SPRING SUITS

Do you find a full wetsuit too restrictive or only plan on swimming in warmer water temperatures? Why not try one of these spring suits or thermal swimsuits?

YULEX 2.0

A new iteration of the natural rubber alternative to neoprene, Yulex 2.0 has a superior degree of stretch and elasticity. We spoke to Yulex CEO Liz Bui about this new innovation

KIT WE LOVE

PROTEIN WORKS, SUNE, £29.99 (600G) This plant-based protein

CHALLENGE

MY SWIM STORY • EVENT LISTINGS

30 SWIMS BEFORE 30

Sometimes the best swimming challenges are those we dream up for ourselves, Jodie Hoskin tells us her story

BIG SWIM, BIG FEELINGS

Mental Health Swims Community Engagement Manager Sarah Groves updates us on her training and plans to swim the length of Windermere

Let’s swim!

UK AND INTERNATIONAL EVENT LISTINGS England &

EXPLORE

WEEKENDINGS • WILD SWIM WALKS

Weekending

BOURNEMOUTH HIGHCLIFF MARRIOTT HOTEL

WILD SWIMMING WEST WALES

Nia Lloyd Knott, author of two Wild Swimming Walks books, including the brand new book for West Wales, shares six of her favourite wild swimming walks

WILD SWIM WALKS: YORKSHIRE

Sarah Banks, author of a new guide book Wild Swimming Walks Yorkshire shares five of her favourite wild swim walks

SWIM LIFE

ENVIRONMENT • SWIMTERPRIZE

Swimterprize

DRYBONES

ENVIRONMENT

The wonder of reedbeds, the discovery of over 800 new marine species and a chance to help clean up 10 million miles of shoreline: Environment Editor Jo Tinsley reports on the things that matter to us as swimmers

Why I Swim

RECONNECTING WITH NATURE

Why I Swim

LUCY BRAZIER