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Are you a strong enough swimmer to do an event?
Not ready now doesn’t mean not ready ever
Outdoor swimming, in general, is a welcoming and inclusive activity. It’s also a relatively safe one. At Outdoor Swimmer magazine, we encourage everyone who wants to swim outdoors to try it. As long as you follow some basic precautions, you can access the joys and benefits of outdoor swimming with quite limited swimming abilities. However, we would advise anyone getting into open water to ensure they have at least the ability to float without panicking and to propel themselves calmly through the water — and to ensure they have familiarised themselves with the usual safety precautions.
The question is, when it comes to events, should the bar be set higher? While we value inclusivity and accessibility, and encourage those who want it to test their abilities in an event, we suggest there are limits, for several reasons.
Well-run open water events are very safe. There will be lifeguards and safety kayakers on the water and emergency medical support on land. By and large, other swimmers will look out for you, and the event will be stopped if conditions make it dangerous. Event organisers do their best to welcome a wide range of swimming abilities and most will be supportive of swimmers with additional needs.
