Making a splash

Worldwide, open water swimming appears to have really caught the public’s imagination. While it’s difficult to quantify, research from the Sport England Active Lives survey reveals that more than 4.1 million people swam in lakes, lochs, rivers and seas between November 2017 and 2018.

Here in SA, Cape Long Distance Swimming Association chair Kerry Kopke says that the association is also aware of open water swimming clubs popping up all around the country’s coastal towns. While the science is unresolved, swimmers report several anecdotal health benefits from swimming in cold water. The feeling of an intense euphoria after a swim is due to the body releasing a powerful cocktail of endorphins but other benefits include a boost to the circulatory and immune systems, and even to a flagging libido.