‘I love to float and see the clouds pass by’
e me the strength to keep going’
FITNESS
PHOTOs: GeTTy (POseD By MODeLs), CHris FLOyD, DOMiniCk TyLer, TraCy kinGKate Rew is the founder
and director of the
Outdoor Swimming Society
and wildswim.com
‘I swam in the river on the
family farm when I was a
young child and just never
stopped, taking opportunistic
dips in open water whenever
they offered themselves.
In 2006, I founded a small
community in the belief
that we all have a right to
swim under an open sky.
The term “outdoor
swimming” covers open
water, ice swimming,
skinny-dipping and wild
wimming. Open water
s competitive – triathlon
aining, all-sports events.
Wild swimming is a dip in
a waterfall, a river, a lake- the key thing is nature.
Swimming needs no
roof. It’s much better to
simply float and see the
clouds pass by. It makes me
feel so much more of myself.
Many a time I feel as
though don’t want to get out
of my warm clothes, but
you never regret a swim.
Ten years ago,
outdoor waters
were seen as
uninviting, dirty,
dangerous and
illegal. Today they
are written about,photographed and explored.
The water is cleaner, and
people are valuing the
outdoors and freedom
from commercialism that
swimming gives you.’Jenny Landreth is an
ambassador, inspirational
speaker and author of
Swell: A Waterbiography
and Swimming London.
‘My mantra is “We’re all equal
in a swimming cap”, and
nowhere is that more evident
than in an outdoor pool. The
answer to the question of
why women love to swim is
complex. It’s partly to do withsocial expectation, and
with how we view ourselves
and our bodies. It’s about
finding strength, taking
space, healing – all in a
non-judgemental place.
Back in the
19th century, female
swimmers were
forced to wear a lot
more than a swimming
cap. Their outfits were
beyond cumbersome. There
was just so much of them! The
amount of material that went
into the costumes was more
than makes a ball gown. One
woman even used to swim
with a matching umbrella!
The achievements of
these women were just
extraordinary. They were total
role models.’until it stops feeling like
exposure and starts to feel
like freedom.
Swimming was a huge
source of strength during
my IVF treatment. I
thought of giving up,
but sea-swimming gave
me the strength to keep
going. When I finally got
pregnant, I swam in the sea
until days before the birth.’Find out more
Visit outdoorswimmingsociety.com
and wildswim.com
Turn the page to find out the health
benefits of outdoor swimming...tr
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‘We’re all equal in
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