How women are allowed to swim 🩱

Published: Tue, 03/04/25

Updated: Tue, 03/04/25

Dear Swimmer

You've heard of suffragettes, but have you heard of swimming suffragettes?

Our Trends survey shows that almost three times the number of women swim outdoors than men. But, from what we wear to how and where we swim, amazing swimming women have had to break boundaries to get us here.

As we celebrate Women's History Month and International Women's Day, we look at some of the stories of female revolutionaries, iconoclasts and rebels in swimwear - like Trudy Ederle portrayed above by Daisy Ridley in the film Young Woman and the Sea.

For more swimming politics, dive into this month's excellent issue. Or subscribe and get access to all our back issues.

Ella Foote, Editor

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LADY CHAMPION AQUATIC

Born in 1861, Londoner Agnes Beckwith inspired a generation of female swimmers.

Find out how she grew up performing at the Royal Aquarium in London - imitating porpoises, bad swimmers and “demonstrating swimming strokes and life saving techniques as well as preforming aquatic stunts such as smoking, drinking milk, and eating sponge cakes underwater.” .

BETTER SWIMWEAR

It's only been a century since women started wearing swimming costumes as we know them. Thanks to the pioneering work of Australian swimmer Annette Kellerman and 'swimming suffragettes', women wore streamlined swimwear for their first Olympics in 1924.

Now, we can choose swimwear that suits our needs and bodies. It's incredible how far we've come.

Read our round up of swimwear for every body for free. And get an Extra subscription for £3.99 to read about how swimwear has been developed and designed since that first 'Kellerman' swimsuit and access all our premium content online.

SWIMWEAR FOR ALL BODIES

SWIMWEAR DESIGN

BEYOND HISTORY

We may not have had the right to wear skin-tight swimwear and swim where we like, but women and water have been entwined throughout history.

In this feature, Elaine K Howley delves into the mythologies behind Hans Christian Andersen’s enduring fairy tale, The Little Mermaid, exploring a rich aquatic spiritual culture of West African mer-creatures including Mami Wata and many other watery gods, goddesses and powerful swimming creatures.

BELLE DU JOUR

Americana capital Atlantic City is built right on the sand. It started out as a health resort and quickly became the place to see and be seen all summer long - including hosting the first Miss America Pageant.

Famous for its racy swimsuit competition, it was a different kind of swimsuit competition – starring a different type of bathing beauty – that would leave a lasting impact on the world of marathon swimming. Find out how in this feature.

When you subscribe, you can read all our stories in digital form. Or, subscribe to Outdoor Swimmer Extra for £3.99 each month and read our premium content online.

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