Overview
WINNER OF THE SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2026 – SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT BOOK OF THE YEAR 'A hugely enjoyable love letter to swimming and open water adventures' – Sophie Raworth Sports and Virgin Radio Breakfast Show presenter Vassos Alexander found solace and distraction swimming in the Thames during a difficult summer, and was bitten by the bug. Now he can't pass a body of water without wanting to jump in. Told through the story of training for a solo Channel swim, Swimmingly takes you on a journey across the world from Bournemouth Beach to San Francisco Bay. Vassos discovers that outdoor swimming is not about being the fastest or the best, it's about finding that little bit of magic in every stroke. Working with elite coaches and interviewing the great and the good of swimming, he uncovers the massive sense of community at the heart of this time-honoured pastime. He meets Olympic champions and Channel legends – including Diana Nyad, who in her 60s became the first person to swim between Cuba and Florida; Lewis Pugh, the UN Patron of the Oceans and Lynne Cox, a woman who went for a swim and saved the world. It's about the everyday swims, too – the tips shared and friendships forged over coffee and cake after a morning dip with the Teddington Bluetits or the sea swimmers of Whitstable. With the sport exploding in popularity over recent years, we all know someone (or are that someone!) who swims outside throughout the year. Swimmingly will leave you with a renewed sense of connection to the world, and perhaps even inspire you to dive into your nearest lake, river or sea with gleeful abandon.
Full Product Details
Author: Vassos Alexander
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Imprint: Bloomsbury Sport
Dimensions:
Width: 12.80cm
, Height: 1.80cm
, Length: 19.60cm
Weight: 0.182kg
ISBN: 9781399414609
ISBN 10: 1399414607
Pages: 208
Publication Date: 04 June 2026
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Not yet available
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.
Reviews
A hugely enjoyable love letter to swimming and open water adventures * Sophie Raworth * Witty, insightful and engaging * Simon Griffiths, founder of Outdoor Swimmer Magazine * One of the 10 books about the outdoors to read this summer * The Scotsman *
Author Information
Vassos Alexander is one of the best-known sports presenters in the UK. He co-hosts The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio and has covered every sporting event imaginable, from Olympic Games to World Cups. He is the author of three bestselling books on running, including Don't Stop Me Now and Running Up That Hill. Vassos lives in London with his wife and three children – and of course an ice bath in the garden!
