Winter Wild Swimming Guidance in Lochs and Rivers
For many of us, inland wild swimming doesn’t stop when the temperature drops—it simply changes. Winter swimming can be deeply
As October is now well and truly here, it brings the window for the iconic single channel swims to a close —a time when brave souls test their limits against the vast and unpredictable English Channel. This year, as we reflect on the achievements in the world of long-distance swimming, it’s impossible to overlook the monumental contributions of female swimmers who have carved their names into the history of this challenging sport.
One of the earliest pioneers was Gertrude Ederle, who made waves—literally and metaphorically—when she became the first woman to swim across the English Channel in 1926. Ederle’s journey from the shores of France to England was not just a remarkable physical feat; it was a bold statement about women’s capabilities. She completed the swim in an astonishing 14 hours and 31 minutes, shattering the existing men’s record by over two hours. Ederle’s determination and success opened doors for women in sports, inspiring generations to come. If you haven’t already, there’s an incredible film that was created this year all about this very swim “Young Woman and the Sea”, starring Daisy Ridley as Gertrude. Definitely one to watch with the encroaching darker nights.
Fast forward, nearly a century later, and we see swimmers like Sarah Thomas pushing the boundaries even further. In 2019, Thomas made history as the first woman to swim across the English Channel four times non-stop. Her incredible achievement not only showcased her endurance and resilience but also highlighted the progress women have made in the sport. Thomas’s swim, completed in 54 hours, was a testament to years of training and a deep commitment to the challenge. Her story is one of courage, proving that barriers exist to be broken. This was nothing new to Thomas though, as she still holds the Guinness World Record for the longest unassisted open water swim which she completed in 2017. A 104 mile swim in Lake Champlain between New York and Vermont in 67 hours.
We have swimmers like American Jaimie Monahan who hold the record for the fastest swimmer to complete 6 (10km) marathon swim across 6 continents in 16 days. In future years going on to secure multiple circumnavigations of Manhattan in New York. She’s gone on to secure multiple accolades in ice swimming endurance to being the first woman to complete the Ice 7s challenge of swimming an ice mile in the 7 different continents.
We can’t talk about incredible long-distance achievements in swimming without mentioning the unfathomable Sophie Etheridge, who in 2022 completed the English Channel. A swim Sophie took on to raise awareness for swimmers with impairments, like herself, as she has Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and Fibromyalgia. The conditions causing her to use a wheelchair, but they didn’t stop her from pursuing her channel dream. Not only did she complete the channel, but she now holds the world record for the longest English Channel swim, a whopping 29 hours and 4 minutes. I cannot fathom the amount of grit and determination that would take.
This brings me on to this year and what a year of records that were broken, leading on from Sophie’s adaptive swim in 2022, Melanie Barratt a gold medal winning Paralympian went on to become the first blind swimmer EVER to complete the channel. She’s being recorded as the first woman….. but I can’t find any record of a man completing it so I’m going to glaze over that technicality. An incredible swim that was also documented by a film crew, with the world premier happening at next month’s Kendal Mountain Festival, there are still a few tickets left for that one if you’re quick. Melanie will also be there after the screening to answer any questions, the film is called ‘Untethered’ referring to how she usually trains tethered in a pool, but you can’t do that in qualifying open water swims. Her swimming records don’t end there either she also became the first blind woman to swim the length of Lake Geneva in 2021.
Lake Geneva is another swimming jewel in the ultramarathon world of swimming, and the 45.2 mile lake was also conquered by another woman this year. Earlier in 2024, Sam Farrow, logged the women’s record for the fastest Lake Geneva Crossing. It took her 22 hours 48 minutes to complete. This one’s still pending ratification, but I’ve got everything from fingers to toes crossed that comes through soon for her. We must mention our very own Borderer Caroline Connor who also took on Lake Geneva earlier in the year and on completing the end-to-end challenge in a time of 25 hours and 25 minutes Caroline became the 23rd person to have completed the gruelling swim and claimed the record time for a wetsuit swimmer.
Their stories remind us that the open water is not just a challenge to conquer, but also a realm where tenacity and spirit thrive. As more women take to the waters, we look forward to witnessing even greater achievements in the future. Here’s to the champions of today and tomorrow, who continue to inspire us with their unwavering resolve and extraordinary talent.
For many of us, inland wild swimming doesn’t stop when the temperature drops—it simply changes. Winter swimming can be deeply
I reached out to the pals I swim with as the magic of water resonates with so many people and
I asked my swim buddy to share with me his experience of cold water dipping and what I received was